Disgusting. Parasites. Lowlifes.
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Those are just some of the terms being used to describe the user behind an Instagram account attempting to drag Canberra Raiders star John Bateman and his family through the mud.
Bateman tweeted a series of screenshots on Tuesday from direct messages sent to the mother of his daughter on Instagram offering "instant cash for stories" about the Raiders forward.
"Who ever this is, sending messages like this to my daughter mother. (sic) You really need to get a grip,you absolute freaks!! But if you want some stories and are handing cash out come see me I'll tell you myself you set of muppets!!" Bateman tweeted.
The crude messages highlight one of the perils of social media, which gives people a faceless identity which they can use to harm others.
It appears the conversation opens with an Instagram user behind the account "sherbert6677", claiming to be a journalist, asking if they are talking to the right person.
"Were you in a relationship with John Bateman Canberra raiders (sic) second row player?," the message reads.
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"If this is true we know he has not painted you in a brilliant light in his previous interview ... Do you have any information that could be useful to a online newspaper?
"Instant cash for any stories that are true and can be backed up with evidence?
"Do you know any of his friends who are willing to dish any information?
"Get back to me and I'll give you my email and we can FaceTime as I'm in WA at the moment.
"No come backs to you we can assure that! Unless you want to."
Bateman opted to fire back at the account user on Twitter given he has spoken openly about the positive impact his daughter has had on his life.
The Bradford product comes from a place where "people fight with each other to prove points", a place where it is so easy to fall in with the wrong crowd.
He still remembers the wake-up call delivered during a maths lesson at school when a teacher dragged him out of the classroom.
Bateman thought he was in trouble again. Instead, he was told his girlfriend was waiting for him.
She told him she was pregnant, and he could only muster one thought: "shit".
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Millie May Bateman was born three weeks after her father's 16th birthday, leaving the promising footballer with a decision to make. He could focus, or he could fight, do drugs and end up in prison.
When he jumped into the passenger seat of now Raiders teammate Elliott Whitehead's car to go to Bradford training, he knew it was the right decision.
Because today the fearless back-rower is one of the premier forwards on the planet.
Bateman will soon return to Raiders headquarters for pre-season training as the Green Machine set their sights on making amends for a missed opportunity in this year's NRL grand final.
The bulk of the squad is back on deck already in what looms as Canberra's final pre-season at their Bruce base before relocating to Braddon.
The $19 million state of the art facility is a stone's throw away from the city.