A man has been charged with a public order offence after an image emerged appearing to mock Middlesbrough supporters in the wake of a fatal crash. The incident followed Boro's Championship victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Riverside Stadium last Saturday.
Bradley Aston, a 20-year-old from Walsall, was charged by Cleveland Police and has been remanded in custody. He is set to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday morning. The image in question, which circulated online, showed a man holding a mobile phone with a message on its screen.
Police statement on match safety
Pc Chris Hilton, Cleveland Police's dedicated football officer, issued a statement following the charge. "I hope this robust and swift action demonstrates our commitment to making sure football matches are a safe and enjoyable environment for all," he said. Pc Hilton also thanked the public for their support and West Midlands Police for their collaborative efforts during the investigation.
The victory over Wolves, secured by a Will Lankshear goal, helped maintain Middlesbrough's strong league position.
Details of the A66 crash
The alleged mockery is linked to a tragic crash on the A66 in August that killed seven people, including two police officers. An official investigation found that police had aborted a pursuit moments before a marked police vehicle and a VW Passat travelling the wrong way were involved in a head-on collision. The report confirmed officers did not use a stinger or initiate tactical contact prior to the crash.
Boro's focus now returns to the pitch, with a key away fixture against Stoke City coming up this weekend. The full schedule of upcoming matches is available on our fixtures page. Bradley Aston's court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Wolverhampton.
More detail at Daily Mirror Football
