By Tyne-Talk
February 27 2012
Sunderland Magistrates Court today served Peter Copeland a four month prison sentence, suspended for 18months for making "grossly offensive" remarks about Newcastle United striker Demba Ba, on Twitter. The 29 year old Sunderland fan, who lives with his parents and is unemployed pleaded guilty to two offenses under the Malicious Communications Act
Copeland tweeted;
"With the number of darkies in your f****** team, you should be called the C**n Army."
When he arrested he told the police:
"All this because I called Demba Ba a black b******."
His solicitor pleaded his case putting to the District Judge that she hoped he wouldn't be made a scapegoat.
In addition to his 4 month suspended sentence he was sentenced to 150 hours community service and ordered to pay £80 in costs.
The case proves that Newcastle United, who gave a statement to the court during the case, are not prepared to accept racism and will pursue those to perpetrate it, through the courts.
The case comes just days before the Newcastle face Sunderland on Sunday.
