Student jailed for Twitter abuse of Fabrice Muamba

A HANDCUFFED student sobbed as he was jailed for mocking Fabrice Muamba on Twitter after the young footballer collapsed during a match.

Liam Stacey, 21, of Pontypridd, South Wales, broke down yesterday as he was given a 56-day prison sentence for making what a judge called “vile and abhorrent” comments. He briefly fell into the arms of his mother as he passed the public gallery at Swansea Magistrates’ Court as he was taken into custody.

Fans at White Hart Lane and those watching on TV saw Bolton Wanderers midfielder Muamba, 23, collapse during an FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 17 March.

While his fight for life touched hearts around the world, prompting many to post messages of support online, a drunken Stacey chose to mock.

The first thought of the Swansea University undergraduate was to post on Twitter: “LOL [laugh out loud]. **** Muamba. He’s dead!!!” Stacey then proceeded to post a series of increasingly racist tweets.

Jim Brisbane, Chief Crown Prosecutor for 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.”

In court yesterday, Gareth Jones, defending, depicted Stacey as a “kind and caring person” with friends of different ethnic backgrounds.

He spoke of the regret and disgust that Stacey felt about his behaviour, and called for the judge to stop short of jail.

But after a short adjournment, District Judge Charles told a sobbing Stacey: “In my view, there is no alternative to an immediate prison sentence.”

Swansea University is conducting an internal investigation into the matter.