Football supporter says sorry for mocking Hillsborough disaster after rival fan dies
A Sheffield Wednesday fan who posted deeply offensive “disaster-related abuse” after an opposing fan died during a match has apologised for the “upset and anger”.
Richard Crisp, 55, posted the messages on X, formerly known as Twitter, after West Brom fan Mark Townsend died after a medical incident at Hillsborough stadium on September 28 last year during the West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday clash. In the posts, Crisp referenced the 97 people killed in the crush at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium in 1989.
Sheffield Magistrates' Court heard in one of the posts, Crisp said: “Another one to add to the Leppings Lane tally. What are we at now 98? When we get to 100 we’ll have a party. Up the Owls.”
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His representative, Louise Brown, read his letter of apology to the court. In it he said he accepted that what he had written was "derogatory, hurtful, distressing and disrespectful” to Liverpool and West Brom football club fans. He said: "I wish to apologise unreservedly to all the people I have affected and for the upset and anger I have caused.”
Mrs Brown told the court Crisp, of Lennox Road, Hillsborough, had been suffering from depression and had been drinking as a coping mechanism at the time of his posts. She said he lost his project manager job of more than 20 years within 24 hours of the posts, and was expelled from his golf club which Sheffield Wednesday slapped him with a lifetime ban.
Prosecutor Mark Hugges told the court the family of Mr Townsend had not made a complaint about the posts.
Mrs Brown told magistrates Crisp and his family had also been threatened since the posts, leaving them "scared for their lives." Mrs Brown said: "It was quite clear someone was watching their house.”
Mr Hughes said police were only made aware of the threats when the manager of Hillsborough Golf Club, where dad-of-two Crisp has been a member for 19 years, grew concerned. He said someone with a Liverpool accent had called and threatened to “burn the clubhouse down”.
Crisp admitted sending communications of an indecent or offensive nature. On Monday, January 20 was sentenced to a 12-month community order which will include 25 rehabilitation activity days. Chair of the bench Jayne Revill also ordered him to pay £199 in costs and surcharges.
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