Former Hearts footballer Ryan Stevenson has hit out at online trolls after they targeted his pregnant girlfriend.
In a scathing Instagram rant, Stevenson shared two separate male accounts who were trolling Sarah's pictures and videos, and while she wasn't bothered about it, he decided to stand up for her by outing the trolls.
Taking to social media the 36-year-old called the trolls 'scum' and 'immature' for writing nasty messages calling Sarah fake.
In the post he wrote: "So the guys who follow myself and Sarah would have seen how Sarah had a few comments from people trying to troll her on a couple of her pictures and videos she put up.
"First off across the board to anyone who finds the need to troll people... I honestly find you as the scum of the earth.
"In a world that is so f****d up right now and in general, to go our your way to try and make someone feel shit because bottom line you're insecure and unhappy in yourself is a disgrace."
He added: "Anyway, I tried to let it go... not that it bothers Sarah in the slightest she's bulletproof with these sort of things...
"Me I'm not I've had it through my football where at times it really affected me...So I could not let it go... After all she's my girl I love her with all my heart and she's 8 months pregnant."
Stevenson then shared the two accounts, and that he had messaged them both but was blocked shortly afterwards.
He then posted a sweet story applauding his girlfriend for always being strong.
He wrote: "Not that any of this has affected Sarah...Just incase any yous trolls are wondering...This girl is the most amazing, down to earth, kind hearted human I've ever came across...She's stunning, sexy, everything yous bams wish yous were.
"The most amazing step mum to my boys, the best mummy to be to our daughter, the hardest working girl I've ever came across, always trying to do her best for her family and herself... A girl who saved me, saved my life when I was on edge."
He penned: "So I'll say this to yous trolls out there... please think twice before you comment or try brining someone down who you know nothing about... Instead of being an utter d**k maybe try empowering someone being nice, complimenting someone... You never know you might just like it and in turn feel good about yourself."
Ryan and his girlfriend Sarah are expecting their first child together in Decemeber.
Earlier this year, Ryan opened up about his mental health battle.
Stevenson said he fell out of love with the game, detested life itself as everything he cared about was evaporating in front of his eyes.
He said: "I was worrying how I’d survive away from football. Who was I going to be?
“I went through a divorce, I’d been with my ex-wife for 14 years, married for nine. That took a major toll, in terms of the kids. That was the biggest struggle.
“I went from having them every day to once or twice a week and I couldn’t cope.
“Alongside the demise of the football, it was hard.
“Two massive parts of my life collided at once and I felt as if everything was crumbling around me.
“At that point I didn’t know how to get through it. I didn’t have a way out.
“I was going home to an empty house every night.
“I hated football and I hated life. I didn’t have a clue what was around the corner. It was a horrible period.”
