Tom Daley
Tom Daley rests in between dives in the men's synchronised 10m platform final (Reuters) Reuters

Police say they have arrested a 17-year-old accused of sending death threats and abusing Olympic diver Tom Daley about his dead father via Twitter.

Dorset Police have said the male was arrested at a guest house in the Weymouth area of Dorset.

Daley and his partner Pete Waterfield finished fourth and missed out on a medal in the synchronised 10-metre platform event.

Shortly after the event, a Tom Daley received a message from twitter from user Rileyy_69 which said "you let your dad down I hope you know that."

Daley responded by tweeting: "After giving it my all...you get idiot's sending me this..."

Daley's father Rob died of a brain tumour last year.

The 17-year-old is also alleged to have tweeted "I'm going to find you and i'm going to drown you in the pool you cocky t**t your [sic] a nobody people like you make me sick".

A spokeswoman for Dorset police said: "A 17-year-old man was arrested by Dorset police officers in the early hours this morning at a guesthouse in the Weymouth area on suspicion of malicious communications. He is currently helping police with their inquiries."

Speaking before the Olympics, Daley revealed his father "gave me all the inspiration that I've needed".

The 18-year-old from Plymouth in Devon, told the BBC: "Winning a medal would make all the struggles that I've had worthwhile.

"It's been my dream since a very young age to compete at an Olympics.

"I'm doing it for myself and my dad. It was both our dreams from a very young age. I always wanted to do it and dad was so supportive of everything.

"It would make it extra special to do it for him."

When news of the insensitive tweet spread, the teenager attempted to apologise.

He tweeted: "@TomDaley1994 I'm sorry mate I just wanted you to win cause it's the Olympics I'm just annoyed we didn't win I'm sorry tom accept my apology."

He later added: "please I don't want to be hated I'm just sorry you didn't win I was rooting for you pal to do Britain all proud just so upset."

"I never knew your dad past [sic] away I've only just found out my mum past away to man."

Daley will compete in the individual event on 11 August.

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