Backlash starts hours after actor’s death

CRITICS laid into Leslie Grantham on social media hours after his death was announced.

The backlash came as fans grieved the loss of the soap favourite.

X Factor winner Steve Brookstein was among those to slam Leslie on Twitter. He said: “Leslie Grantham has died. As a young man he shot dead a taxi driver in an attempted robbery. Grantham served ‘life’ (ten years). He came out and created a new life as an actor. Became famous and then died. My thoughts are with the family of the taxi driver.”

Another user said: “I don’t understand why the life of Leslie Grantham is being celebrated.”

Other posts on social media branded actor Grantham a “sex pest” after it emerged cops had probed abuse claims about him. Ex-police officer Mark Williams-Thomas said he investigated allegations he had assaulted a 16-year-old schoolgirl in 2009 although officers did not pursue a prosecution.

A Twitter user said Grantham was a “convicted murderer and sex pest”. Another said: “Save your ‘respect’ that you are all paying to Leslie Grantham, he was also a sex pest, former armed robber & murderer. “Killing a taxi driver and after 10 yrs in prison gets out & live the life of riley in 1 of the nations biggest shows. Who say crime doesn’t pay?”

And one added “goodbye to toxic rubbish”.