Elon Musk calls Vernon Unsworth a 'child rapist' in latest outbreak since 'paedo' remarks for rescuing schoolkids from a cave in Thailand

Elon Musk has escalated his baseless attack on a British diver who helped rescue children from a cave in Thailand, calling him a “child rapist” in an email to a journalist.

It comes after the Tesla and SpaceX boss branded Vernon Unsworth a “pedo” in an extraordinary Twitter tirade that sparked a huge backlash earlier this year.

The billionaire business magnate, who had unsuccessfully attempted to assist the rescue of a Thai football team from the cave, had apologised for his comments.

But two new emails from Mr Musk published by BuzzFeed show how he launched new claims against Mr Unsworth without providing evidence to support the allegations.

Vernon Unsworth at the cave
REUTERS

He called Mr Unsworth a “single white guy from England who’s been travelling to or living in Thailand for 30 to 40 years”, alleging that he had moved to Chiang Rai “for a child bride who was about 12 years old at the time”.

In an earlier message to a BuzzFeed reporter, he wrote: “I suggest that you call people you know in Thailand, find out what’s actually going on and stop defending child rapists, you f****** a******,” Musk wrote in the first message.

Following the latest remarks, Mr Unsworth’s lawyer said the SpaceX chief’s comments were “false” and that he will be sued over both the latest and previous allegations.

BuzzFeed reported that it had investigated the allegations but could not verify any of the claims, adding that it was unclear where the allegations originated.

Elon Musk had apologised for the initial allegations
REUTERS

In an email sent to the Guardian, his lawyer said: “Elon Musk’s campaign of publishing vile and false accusations against Mr Unsworth is inexcusable. Musk hopes to be sued and he deserves to be sued. He will be.”

Amid a huge backlash over his initial comments Mr Musk, who is worth $20bn, tweeted an apology.

The Tesla boss said his extraordinary tirade was "spoken in anger" after Mr Unsworth branded his offer of a mini-submarine for the rescue a "PR stunt".

He said: “My words were spoken in anger after Mr Unsworth said several untruths & suggested I engage in a sexual act with the mini-sub, which had been built as an act of kindness & according to specifications from the dive team leader.

“Nonetheless, his actions against me do not justify my actions against him, and for that I apologise to Mr Unsworth and to the companies I represent as leader. The fault is mine and mine alone.

“I am truly sorry if I offended anyone.”

Tesla shareholders were among those to demand an apology from Mr Musk, with open letter stating his “many examples of concerning behaviour” is “shaking investor confidence”.

Mr Unsworth, whose knowledge of the cave was crucial in freeing the boys, previously told CNN Mr Musk’s prototype would have had “absolutely no chance of working”.

“He can stick his submarine where it hurts,” he said. “He had no conception of what the cave passage was like. The submarine, I believe, was about 5ft 6in long, and rigid, so it wouldn’t have gone round corners or obstacles.

“It wouldn’t have made the first 50 metres in from the dive start point. Just a PR stunt.”

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