A TEENAGER is believed to be the first person to be convicted after trying to unmask James Bulger’s killers.
Wayne Vincent Dale, 19, from the Isle of Man, sent a message on the social networking internet site Facebook, falsely claiming a superstore worker had murdered the tot.
Incorrect internet rumours then swept the island that Robert Thompson lived there.
Police were informed and he was arrested and later charged with using provoking behaviour.
Dale, of Ballacannell Estate, Lonan, pleaded guilty to the offence and will be sentenced later this month.
Dale also admitted theft after he stole £1,100 from a house where his girlfriend lived.
That offence was committed while he was on bail for the internet slur.
The false rumour swept through the Isle of Man and was even posted on internet message boards.
One person said: “I live on the Isle of Man and word has it Robert Thompson is over here and his cover has been blown while working in B&Q.”
