A North Yorkshire man who distributed messages and videos mocking the Hillsborough disaster before a Liverpool and Manchester United fixture has been sentenced.

Tommy Jobling, 22, sent the offensive messages and videos to a Liverpool fan using WhatsApp.

The messages, which referred to the crush in 1989 where 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives, were sent when the football team played Manchester United in March 2024 at Old Trafford Stadium.

Jobling, of Whitby, knew the fan from online gaming and was later charged with malicious communication, Greater Manchester Police said.

He pleaded guilty to the offence and appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Friday, September 20.

He was issued with a 12-month community order, 20 rehabilitation days and 80 hours of unpaid work. He also received a fine, costs and victim surcharge totalling £319.

After the court hearing, PC Matthew Ford, Greater Manchester Police’s force football banning officer, said: “Like previous seasons, now with the football schedule in full flow we want to make it clear to any supporters still intent on causing distress through any form of tragedy chanting, we will be taking robust action to highlight that we, along with the clubs and vast majority of fans, it will not be tolerated.

“We would also like to remind people that they can continue to report offences direct to us in person, by speaking to officers deployed at games so we can act there and then.

"We will also continue to liaise with both clubs ahead of fixtures to ensure supporter groups are engaged in our proactive approach to identifying offences around tragedy chanting as we understand the concern, distress, and upset this causes whenever fans unfortunately experience it. It has no place in the game.”