Bail continued for man accused of sending ‘offensive’ Captain Tom tweet

Bail has been continued for a man who denies sending an offensive tweet about Captain Sir Tom Moore after the fundraising centenarian’s death.

Joseph Kelly was charged under the Communications Act after the post on February 3 – the day after the war veteran died.

The 35-year-old, from Castlemilk in Glasgow, was not present when the case first called at Lanark Sheriff Court on Wednesday February 17 and a not guilty plea was submitted by lawyer Archie Hill on his behalf.

After an initial intermediate diet on Wednesday, a second intermediate diet will be held at the court on Wednesday June 2 before a trial date of Thursday June 17, which had previously been set by Sheriff Nikola Stewart.

The charge states: “On February 3 2021 at Waverly Court, Lanark, you Joseph Kelly did cause to be sent by means of a public electronic communications network a post to the public using social media that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, and that did utter offensive remarks about Captain Sir Tom Moore, now deceased.”

Captain Tom, who captured the hearts of the nation with his fundraising efforts during the first coronavirus lockdown, died in Bedford Hospital on February 2 after testing positive for Covid-19.

He walked 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday, raising more than £32 million for the NHS.