'The crimes they are a-changing' as Bob Dylan might say!

Stephen Scully a criminal solicitor with Lanyon Bowdler says: "Over the past few years, largely due to the increase in social media, the types of offences I represent are evolving.

"More and more evidence is being produced of threats made on Facebook or via text message, meaning phones and computers have to be sent off for analysis."

Comments made in the heat of the moment leave a permanent trace as soon as they are posted, by which point it is too late to delete.

Some recent high profile cases have also demonstrated the growing number of so called 'trolls' who attack people, an example being the Olympian Tom Daley.

'Celebrities' such as Rio Ferdinand have found out that a 're-tweet' of another persons offensive comment can also alert the authorities.

Stephens sums up: "The simple advice is think before you comment or tweet. Remember you are not making that comment to one person, you are in reality sharing it with the world!"