Offensive tweeter sent straight to jail

THE MAN THAT THOUGHT IT WISE to send offensive messages about a footballer who was having a heart attack has learned that the courts do not agree with him.

Swansea University student Liam Stacey, 21, from Pontyprid sent his Twitter message when news about Fabrice Muamba having been struck by a heart attack was spreading. It was picked up quickly by people including Stan Collymore, and reported to the police.

The police moved fast too, and arrested Stacey a couple of days later, by which time the student was telling anyone who listened that he was not the one who sent the message or that he was drunk at the time. We will not repeat the message, as it is not pleasant, and it lead to a number of others which got more offensive in nature.

The BBC reports that this is the view of the court, adding that Jim Brisbane, chief crown prosecutor for CPS Cymru-Wales, said, "Racist language is inappropriate in any setting and through any media. We hope this case will serve as a warning to anyone who may think that comments made online are somehow beyond the law."

Someone who does not think that comments made online are above the law is Paul Chambers, who won the attentions of the law when he joked over Twitter that he planned to blow up an airport.

Chambers, who was found guilty of menacing, does not face a prison sentence but has been fined by the court. He continues to appeal his case and has a lot of support.

The same can not be said for Stacey. µ