John Caudwell hits back at troll's 'untruths' after 'old, bald d***head' jibe

-Credit: (Image: Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)
-Credit: (Image: Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)


Self-made Stoke-on-Trent billionaire John Caudwell has hit back at trolls - after being told to ''f*** off, you old bald d***head'. The 71-year-old is on a mission to highlight the unacceptable abuse he and others face on social media.

The Phones 4U mogul is now sharing a series of videos where he singles out some of the mean jibes, including those that focus on his partner, Modesta Vzesniauskaite, the mother of two of his children.

Former Berry Hill High School student John, who grew up in Wellesley Street, Shelton, before moving to the Bentilee council estate, said: "Social media can be brutal! Team Caudwell usually tells me to ignore the trolls, but I've had enough of that."

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In the first video shared on Instagram and LinkedIn, John is filmed at his Jacobean mansion near Eccleshall reading out some of the messages he has received. He says: "Here's a nice one. F*** off you old bald d***head with a Russian girlfriend a quarter of your age.

"I think that accusation really draws a conclusion that you're the d***head really. You can get away with 'f*** off, you old, bald d***head' because it's all true. Russian girlfriend, well another one of your untruths, she's Lithuanian, she doesn't like the Russians at all, as I am anti-Putin in the extreme.

"I would never ever have a Russian girlfriend. Modesta is a wonderful person. Yes, she's very young, she's coming up to 41 years old. But if you do the maths and I don't know if you're capable of doing any maths whatsoever, but 41 over 71 does not come to a quarter. Put it into your calculator, see if it works."

The video attracted multiple messages of support from business leaders and fans. One wrote: "Water off a duck's back. Let them vent their spleen, rather that than silence them and they have no outlet for the anger. Be it justified or not."

Another added: "People who talk that way about successful people usually have deep insecurities about their looks, body, or place in life. Pretty much classic losers who have done nothing with their lives and resent those that have.

"They show up in many places and feel empowered by social media since it hides their cowardice and inability to express a difference of opinion in a civil way. Keep cranking, making cash, restoring awesome buildings and having a blast with your grand kids. They will continue to wallow in their misery and contribute nothing to society as they fade out like an old newspaper ready to be discarded. Cheers to bald heads!"

And a third said: "live in Lithuania which is not Russia and nothing wrong with having a younger amazing lady in your life."

A spokesperson for John Caudwell told StokeonTrentLive: "There is a series of these mean tweets being read by John that will drop occasionally over the coming weeks, and this is the first posted across his socials today. They are getting really good traction and engagement. John really enjoyed filming and responding to them."

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