Fabrice Muamba Twitter Abuse: Liam Stacey, Jailed For Abuse, Loses Appeal

Student Jailed For Abusive Muamba Tweet Loses Appeal

University student Liam Stacey, who was jailed for sending offensive messages on Twitter following the collapse of footballer Fabrice Muamba, has had his appeal against his sentence rejected at Swansea Crown Court.

A handcuffed Liam Stacey, 21, was taken away in tears on Tuesday after being jailed for 56 days for admitting a racially aggravated public order offence.

His lawyers come before a high court judge at Swansea Crown Court, south Wales, today to appeal against the sentence.

But he lost the appeal and will return to jail.

The Swansea University biology undergraduate triggered revulsion when he posted "LOL (laugh out loud). F*** Muamba. He's dead!!!"

His reviled tweet came quickly after the soccer star's collapse when his plight was attracting a wave of sympathy around the world.

Soccer fans watched in horror when Muamba collapsed during an FA Cup tie from a heart attack on 17 March.

Millions witnessed the live screening of the clash against Tottenham Hotspur in which the Bolton Wanderers midfielder almost died.

A series of highly critical replies pushed him into an online racist torrent.

On Tuesday, he was led away sobbing from Swansea Magistrates' Court in handcuffs after breaking down on hearing his sentence.

Support for the jail term was widespread on the day it was handed down, and was subsequently widely debated on Twitter.

But a significant minority criticised his punishment and claimed it was politically motivated to make an example of him.

Close

What's Hot