Racist Tweets: Man Charged

23 May 2013, 10:06 | Updated: 23 May 2013, 10:09

A man's been charged with sending racist tweets to two Northampton Town footballers.

Ben Townsend, 25, of Norwich Drive in Cheltenham, was charged with two counts of sending by public communication network an offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message.

Townsend was arrested by officers from Gloucestershire Police on Wednesday 8 May 2013 under the Malicious Communications Act, following an investigation by the force and Northamptonshire Police.

His arrest followed the allegation that racist tweets were sent to Adebayo Akinfenwa and Clarke Carlisle, who is also chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association (pictured right).

A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire police said: "A man from Cheltenham, who was arrested following allegations of racist tweets towards Northampton Town football players, has been charged.

"He has been bailed to appear at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on June 21.''

Northampton Town beat Cheltenham Town in their League Two Play Off Semi-Final at the start of May 2013, to progress to the League Two Play Off Final at Wembley.