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Stan Collymore Twitter race abuser Joshua Cryer sentenced | Stan Collymore Twitter race abuser Joshua Cryer sentenced |
(40 minutes later) | |
A law student who sent former footballer Stan Collymore a series of racist tweets has been given a two-year community order by a judge. | A law student who sent former footballer Stan Collymore a series of racist tweets has been given a two-year community order by a judge. |
Joshua Cryer, 21, of Jesmond, Newcastle, admitted racially abusing the former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest star. | Joshua Cryer, 21, of Jesmond, Newcastle, admitted racially abusing the former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest star. |
Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard Cryer hoped to gain a reaction from the talkSport broadcaster. | Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard Cryer hoped to gain a reaction from the talkSport broadcaster. |
District Judge Stephen Earl also ordered Cryer pay £150 court costs. | District Judge Stephen Earl also ordered Cryer pay £150 court costs. |
Cryer, a student at Newcastle University, had previously denied sending messages in January that were "grossly offensive". | Cryer, a student at Newcastle University, had previously denied sending messages in January that were "grossly offensive". |
Cryer, originally from Burnley, was arrested after the 40-year-old former England striker reported the incident to Staffordshire police, who in turn passed the matter on to Northumbria officers. | Cryer, originally from Burnley, was arrested after the 40-year-old former England striker reported the incident to Staffordshire police, who in turn passed the matter on to Northumbria officers. |
'Showing off' | |
The defendant was charged under section 127 of the Communications Act with sending grossly offensive messages. | |
Under the order, Cryer will have to do 240 hours of unpaid work. | Under the order, Cryer will have to do 240 hours of unpaid work. |
Mr Collymore, originally from Cannock, Staffordshire, campaigns against racism and is a supporter of the charity Depression Alliance. | Mr Collymore, originally from Cannock, Staffordshire, campaigns against racism and is a supporter of the charity Depression Alliance. |
Prosecuting, Veronica Jordan said Cryer was "showing off" and boasted to friends that he had "found a new hobby". | |
She said: "It was not impulsive. He has done this up to seven times over a period of days. That does not smack of impulsive behaviour. | |
"He was intending to insult and abuse." | |
Mitigating, Andrew O'Hanlon said: "He [Cryer] is not somebody I would regard as being a dyed-in-the-wool racist. | |
"The reason he contacted Collymore in the first place was he is a fan of his." | |
Passing sentence, Judge Earl said: "I don't doubt you are not an inherently racist person, but you did act in an intentionally racist way. | |
"I find it difficult to fathom what on Earth you thought you were doing. It was stupid and you ought to have known better." | |
Newcastle University said Cryer would be the subject of a disciplinary hearing. |
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