When local anime distributor Odex began cracking down on illegal downloaders, Netizens rose almost as one to decry the action, never mind the important fact that Odex had the law on its side.

Now the online row has taken a nasty turn as the more unsavoury elements of the Wild Wild Web take potshots at Odex company director Stephen Sing, says a report by The New Paper.

Netizens felt he had gloated over his company's success in taking illegal downloaders to task, and Mr Sing soon found himself branded the 'most hated man in Singapore's anime community', as labelled by one blogger.

According to a report by The Straits Times, media industry observers say the campaign against Mr Sing is probably the most vicious online attack here.

But Mr Sing, 35, says he has no regrets over his crackdown on those who allegedly downloaded pirated anime from the Internet.

As a result of Odex’s legal actions, hundreds of anime fans face financial claims of up to $5,000, and this has led to a bitter online campaign against Mr Sing, by anime fans - including death threats, threats to beat him up and even to set fire to his house.

Mr Sing says it has not been a good time but he had been willing to 'live with it' until the threats got serious, along with the arrival of online pictures of him and his wife - due in October to give birth to their second child.

He has since made a police report over the death threats as he says he ‘cannot afford not to take this seriously'.

For the full report read The Straits Times