Stan Collymore tweet student spared jail

Stan Collymore works for Channel 5 (GETTY IMAGES)

A law student who sent Stan Collymore a series of racist tweets has been spared jail.

Joshua Cryer, 21, admitted using the social networking site to bombard the football pundit with abuse in an attempt to "snare a celebrity", a district judge at Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard today.

Cryer told police he hoped to gain a reaction from Collymore, who is a broadcaster for talkSport, campaigns against racism and is a supporter of the Depression Alliance charity.

The Newcastle University student, who lives in the Jesmond area of the city, claimed his account had been hacked.

He later admitted a charge under section 127 of the Communications Act of sending grossly offensive messages.

District Judge Stephen Earl ordered that he complete a two-year community order with 240 hours unpaid work, and pay £150 costs to the court.

PA