Man charged over offensive Tweet aimed at Sir Captain Tom Moore

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On Friday 5 February 2021, we received a report of an offensive Tweet about Captain Sir Tom Moore who died on Tuesday 2 February.

“A 35-year-old man has subsequently been arrested and charged in connection with communication offences and is due to appear at Lanark Sheriff Court on Wednesday 17 February.”

It is understood that the man has been charged under the Communications Act 2003, which states: “A person is guilty of an offence if he sends by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.”

Sir Captain Tom Moore died on February 2 in Bedford Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19.

Sir Tom Moore raised more than £32 million during the first coronavirus lockdown for the NHS by walking laps around his garden. He had initially started his fundraising campaign to raise £1,000 for the NHS.

The Second World War veteran’s family said that the last year of Sir Tom’s life was “nothing short of remarkable” and that he had “experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of”.

Following his passing, he was honoured with a national clap, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.