Rosie Fiore

A novelist's attack on an internet user who was apparently hoping to download her book illegally has gone viral on Twitter.

Rosie Fiore was searching for online reviews of her latest book Babies in Waiting when she found in a forum a request for “free book downloads” from a user called “Stinkle01”.

Ms Fiore, 44, of Mill Hill, wrote such an acerbic response that it was read by thousands of visitors to her website before being reposted on Twitter.