Trolled Liberal candidate Brooke Vitnell has blasted an online poster as ‘scum’

A hopeful politician who complained about the treatment she receives online has lashed out - labelling one of her trolls a “piece of scum”.

A hopeful Liberal politician who complained about trolls abusing her has hit back calling one of the Facebook users “a piece of scum”.

Brooke Vitnell, 30, complained about her treatment from online trolls who have branded her as “sl*t” and “bimbo with no brains” earlier this week.

She called for an end to the abuse which had escalated in recent weeks.

Ms Vitnell referred to a commentator as ‘scum’. Picture: Supplied.

Brooke Vitnell has been targeted online for her appearance. Picture: Facebook/Twitter

The hopeful for the seat of Paterson, on the NSW Mid North Coast, lashed out last week after a person wrote a comment on her personal Facebook page.

“I note you left promotional material for your campaign on Anzac Day wreaths – absolutely pathetic – disrespectful but typical of people clinging to your set of values,” he wrote.

In her response, she did not deny leaving the materials on the wreaths.

“Yes I honoured our war dead. I have NO SHAME AT ALL in standing there and laying a wreath to respect our Veterans and their sacrifice. Including my own grandfather who served in WWII,” she wrote.

“I was invited to attend by local RSL Sub branches and invited to attend lunches afterwards too as a CANDIDATE.

“No one else sees the problem – just you a sad Labor hack. Get off my personal page.”

A short time later she added another comment.

“You’re from Victoria – what a piece of scum – stop trolling female candidates and go contribute something productive to society you scum,” she said.

Brooke Vitnell with her husband Julian Leembruggen. Picture: Facebook.

Ms Vitnell called the man scum. Picture: Facebook.

Ms Vitnell stood by her comments when contacted by news.com.au.

“Like many, including the local Labor member, I left a card on my wreath so the local RSL Sub branch and many others can contact me if they would like to,” she said.

“This is another co-ordinated campaign attacking a conservative female candidate of which I have been subjected to many over the campaign.”

“Many of the comments tweeted to me by the person in question attacking my character and my appearance which I find abhorrent and disgusting as a young woman putting her hand up for public office.

“People threatened that ‘there is a spot in hell waiting’,’she is disgusting’ and ‘privileged coward’ to me plus many other insults because I had the hide the lay a wreath. I fight back and I stand up to internet trolls – if you’re an online troll attacking a female or any candidate – it’s scummy behaviour. I will always call out harassment.”

John-Paul Langbroek commented ‘(.)(.)’ on this picture in 2018 -which included Ms Vitnell. Picture: Supplied.

Earlier this week, Ms Vitnell told The Daily Telegraph she had to reprint about 800 election posters because they had been vandalised.

“Because I’m a bottle blonde and I dye my hair, they’re just savaging me for my looks,” Ms Vitnell said.

“It’s a concerted campaign attacking my physical ­appearance and trying to discredit me, calling me stupid and a sl*t.”

She told news.com.au she has been targeted. Picture: Twitter.

One person said there was a spot in hell for Ms Vitnell. Picture: Twitter.

The harassment has been rife online for the solicitor. She has been trolled about her physical appearance regularly.

Ms Vitnell was in the headlines when Gold Coast liberal politician John-Paul Langbroek, the brother of radio host Kate Langbroek, sparked outrage after posting a suggestive comment about her cleavage on social media.

Four years ago, Mr Langbroek posted a comment with the symbols “(.)(.)” in response to an image of Ms Vitnell smiling for the cameras with her husband.

The photo, taken at Canberra’s midwinter ball, included Ms Vitnell and her husband Julian Leembruggen, who is one of the Prime Minister’s advisers.

Amid the fallout, which included Mr Langbroek being told off by his wife for the remark, he confessed the comment was completely “inappropriate”.

“I removed it this morning without being prompted, and I apologise for any offence caused,” Mr Langbroek said at the time.

He later told the Gold Coast Bulletin that his wife had told him the comment was beyond the pale.

“She said to me, ‘You’re an old man, you can’t do things like that,’” he recounted.

“She said, ‘A bit silly, you can think it, but don’t write it.’”