Student Jailed For Muamba Racist Tweets

27 March 2012, 11:12 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A student who mocked Bolton footballer Fabrice Muamba on Twitter after he collapsed during a match was jailed today for inciting racial hatred.

Liam Stacey, 21, provoked revulsion with comments made while the Bolton star still lay on the pitch.

The 23-year-old midfielder was left fighting for his life after suffering a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup tie on March 17.

Horrified fans watched live on TV as he fell to the ground during the quarter-final clash at Tottenham.

Police were inundated with complaints as members of the public reported the student's comments.

Stacey, a Swansea University biology undergraduate, was quickly tracked down and arrested.

Last week he admitted inciting racial hatred when he appeared briefly at Swansea Magistrates' Court and today he was jailed for 56 days at the same court.

The first of Stacey's messages began with ``LOL (laugh out loud). **** Muamba. He's dead!!!''

A number of people took him to task for his views and he responded with a further string of offensive comments aimed at other Twitter users.

Stacey was close to tears during his appearance before magistrates last week.

Muamba's recovery since suffering a cardiac arrest 10 days ago has been described as "miraculous''.

He remains in intensive care in hospital where his condition is described as serious but stable.