A Banbury mechanic, Dean Moore of Deano’s Garage, was reportedly assaulted in a local pub after a negative review about his business was posted anonymously on a local Facebook group. The attacker allegedly referenced the online criticism before striking Mr Moore, resulting in his hospitalisation.
Thames Valley Police are investigating the April 1st incident. Mr Moore’s mother, Julie Moore, stated that her son had worked hard to build his business and had previously received a business award. The anonymous post, criticising Mr Moore’s work, was seen by thousands before being deleted. Ms Moore condemned the post and called for social media platforms to address anonymous posting.
Later that day, Mr Moore was attacked in his pub. The assailant reportedly accused him of “ripping women off,” referring to the online post, before the assault. Police attended the scene. Ms Moore expressed her concern about the potential consequences of anonymous online posts and the need for preventative measures.
Following the incident, Mr Moore has recovered and received considerable support from the local community. A post by Ms Moore sharing her son’s situation received over 1,100 supportive comments. The BBC has contacted Meta for a response regarding its anonymous posting features.
Source: BBC News