Man fined after wearing t - shirt mocking Hillsborough disaster
A man arrested for wearing a T-shirt mocking the 96 Liverpool fans who died in the Hillsborough disaster has been fined £600 after admitting a public order offence.
A man arrested for wearing a T-shirt mocking the 96 Liverpool fans who died in the Hillsborough disaster has been fined £600 after admitting a public order offence.
50 year old Paul Grange told Worcester Magistrates' Court he was ashamed of what he had done and had deservedly lost his home, job, friends and relationship.
Grange - who pleaded guilty to a charge of displaying abusive writing likely to cause distress - was also ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £135 in costs.
Representing himself in court, Grange told magistrates he now realised the hurt caused by a slogan on the T-shirt, which described the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy as "God's way of helping" a pest control firm.
Images of the shirt, which Grange openly wore in a pub beer garden on Sunday May 29, caused widespread anger on social media.
After hearing a victim impact statement from a woman whose brother died at Hillsborough, Grange, of Lower Wick, Worcester, told magistrates:
"Hearing that statement, it's hit home, the personal effect of it"
"It (the T-shirt) was only supposed to be between friends. And until it went public I didn't realise how badly it affected people."
"Because of my own actions, I have lost my home, my job, my friends, my family and relationship. And it's deserved - I don't think it's any less than I deserve."