Man Charged Over T-Shirt Mocking Hillsborough

A 50-year-old man has been charged with a public order offence after a pub-goer was seen wearing a T-shirt mocking the Hillsborough tragedy.

West Mercia Police said the charge against Paul Grange, from Worcester, relates to the display of abusive or insulting writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

He has been released on bail and will appear at Worcester Magistrates' Court on a date in July.

Officers launched an inquiry after a man was seen wearing the T-shirt describing the disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died before an FA Cup semi-final in 1989, as "God's way of helping" a pest control firm.

Pictures were posted on social media of the man, who was asked to leave the Brewers Arms, in the St John's area of Worcester, by the landlord.

Superintendent Kevin Purcell said: "I understand the alarm and distress the offensive language shown on this T-shirt will have caused to both the people in and around the pub and further afield.

"I would like to thank the landlord of the pub for his support and all the members of the public who were in the pub at the time and came forward to report it."