POLICE are hunting an internet pest who is using a social networking site to bully and send abuse to youngsters in the Bay.

At least 100 victims aged between 11 and 15 have been sent violent and abusive messages after 'befriending' the unknown person on Facebook.

The activities of so-called 'Brian Wwfc Peterlin' have become such a menace that police have now vowed to track him or her down.

PC Rachel Delaney, who is leading the investigation, said the abuse seemed to be restricted to pupils at school in Paignton and Torquay.

She said: "My main concern is the abuse is so extreme it is effectively internet bullying.

"I've spoken to children from a number of schools across the Bay so it is not specific to one school.

"The kids have befriended him on Facebook and he has become extremely abusive.

"It is violent and sometimes racist, not sexual, telling people they are going to die and other upsetting things."

Typically, the pest will access personal details of the victims and use it to send aggressive messages about birthdays, school and even family funerals.

The pest also hijacks the details of unsuspecting 'friends' to set up new online identities to send abuse in other people's names.

Police say he always uses capitals in internet dialogue.

This has led to repercussions at school with some children being accused of bullying when they have simply had their identities stolen.

Police have now appealed for information leading to the identity of the person.

PC Delaney said she has traced messages back to October last year when 'Brian' appeared on a football group page.

He targeted the youths and Facebook blocked him.

But he returned to say: "I'm back, Facebook can't block me."

Police think his activities may have started off as a bit of a craze which has now got out of hand.

"Lots of the teenagers can just brush it off," said PC Delaney.

"But for others it can get depressing.

"There is at least one child who has been off school after threats of violence and feeling quite depressed.

"That is when police have become involved and the more I look into it the bigger the problem gets.

"The abuse seems very centred around death. So he will pick on illnesses, cancer and tumours, and ask about the colour of the coffin or something.

"Children get quite depressed at the comments.

"I want to ask they do not add this person or other people they don't know as friends, and to let me know if they have been victims."

PC Delaney has been liaising with Facebook and the internet crime unit to track down the identity of the bully.

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting crime reference FT12285.