A fan has been convicted for offensive post during Sheffield Wednesday vs West Brom fans death saga

A man has admitted sharing an offensive online message which seemingly mocked the death of a football fan who died at a Sheffield Wednesday game.

West Brom supporter Mark Townsend died after suffering a medical episode at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield’s Hillsborough Stadium in September.

Sheffield magistrates heard how Richard Crisp took to X, formerly Twitter, and made reference to the Hillsborough disaster which killed 97 Liverpool fans.

On Monday, Crisp, 55, of Lennox Road, Hillsborough, admitted sending communications of an indecent or offensive nature and was told he would be sentenced in January.

Magistrates were told that Crisp’s post made a reference to the death of Liverpool fans as a result of the crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989 at the Hillsborough ground.

Sheffield Wednesday responded to the post by issuing Crisp with a lifetime ban.

The court heard that Crisp told police he was “extremely remorseful” after he was arrested and admitted what he had done immediately.

Crisp was bailed ahead of next year’s hearing.

He has been charged after messages were shared online apparently mocking the death of a man at a Sheffield Wednesday game.

West Brom supporter Mark Townsend died from a medical episode on Saturday, at the Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough Stadium, where Liverpool fans died as a result of a crush in 1989.

A social media account, which has since been deleted, was alleged to have made reference to the 97 victims of the disaster.

Richard Crisp, 55, from Hillsborough, was charged with sending a communication or article of an indecent or offensive nature, South Yorkshire Police said.

He was released on bail ahead of an appearance at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 14 October, the force added.