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Jeremy Duns on Stephen Leather's sock puppetry and cyber bullying

@jeremyduns
The Twitter history of @thesteveroach, a sockpuppet account set up and run by Stephen Leather, deleted in June: topsy.com/twitter/theste…
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
He is using the same profile picture and bio for his new sockpuppet account @firstparagraph, which has 15,000 followers.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
He also set up @WriterRoach and used it as a sockpuppet, before handing it to the real Steve Roach, a writer who had irritated him online.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
Steve Roach told me this morning that Stephen Leather was 'very powerful' and that I would be advised not to mess with him.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
He also set up @WriterRoach and used it as a sockpuppet, before handing it to the real Steve Roach, a writer who had irritated him online.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
Roach was very anxious not to upset Leather, and said I was 'playing with fire'.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
In 2010, Roach criticized Leather in an Amazon forum for spamming promotional techiniques. Leather swiftly responded.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
He went onto Goodreads and wrote damning reviews for Roach's books. He wrote a short story with 'Roach' as the villain.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
He attacked Roach in other forums under fake names. And he set up two sockpuppet accounts on Twitter in Roach's name and used them to taunt
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
Roach, and to spam-promote his own work. Roach was overwhelmed and furious. He complained to Goodreads and Amazon, offering screenshots
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
as evidence, but met a brick wall. 'Leather's a big name, I'm nobody, they didn't pay me any attention at all.'
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
Eventually, Roach admitted defeat, emailing Leather and congratulating him for outsmarting him in their online 'war'. Leather was gracious
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
in his cyberbullying victory. He deleted @thesteveroach, and handed control of @WriterRoach to Steve Roach. Heartbreakingly, Steve Roach
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
is grateful that this bestselling author who conducted a vindictive campaign against online has now given him his sockpuppet account.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
Last year, Stephen Leather was the second highest-selling British author on Amazon worldwide: thebookseller.com/news/lee-child…
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
RT @stephenleather @jeremyduns You have crossed the line into libel. Thanks.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
. @_TomMcLaughlin Yes, I spoke to Steve Roach at length this morning and it's provable.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
Stephen Leather is cruel & abusive online, sometimes for fun. See this comment on a review of a book about Alzheimer's: amazon.co.uk/review/R2A2NVG…
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
Stephen Leather has just threatened me with libel for pointing out he uses fake accounts online. He admitted it publicly at Harrogate.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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@jeremyduns
So knock yourself out, hard man @stephenleather. Sue me for libel, you fraudulent, abusive cyber-bully. What a little, little man.
Sat, Jul 28 2012 07:00:49
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