Fabrice Muamba: Jailed Twitter user Liam Stacey's appeal dismissed

Liam Stacey admitted a racially-aggravated public order offence at a previous hearing

A student has lost his appeal after being sent to jail for posting racially offensive comments on Twitter about footballer Fabrice Muamba.

Swansea University student Liam Stacey, 21, from Pontypridd, was sentenced to 56 days on Tuesday.

A High Court judge in Swansea has now dismissed the appeal against sentence.

On Friday, Mr Justice Wyn Williams told Stacey he rejected an argument that he had already been punished enough.

He said the Swansea University biology student had admitted an offence of racist intent.

"He was intending to say what he said and was intending to produce the effect that he did," said the judge.

Stacey was sentenced at Swansea Magistrates' Court on Tuesday after admitting inciting racial hatred over remarks about the Bolton Wanderers player, who collapsed during a cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur.

Muamba, 23, who suffered a cardiac arrest, has been in hospital since the match on 17 March.

Mr Justice Wyn Williams told Stacey: "There can be no avoiding the conclusion that your offence was committed in the context of a grave illness that had afflicted Fabrice Muamba.

"It was immediately apparent that he was gravely ill and while he was lying prostrate on the pitch you posted comments that were extremely racist couched in terms that can only be described as extremely offensive.

'Behaviour'

"What was written was capable of being read by any user of Twitter and these messages provoked a very strong response.

"You received responses which were extremely critical but you did not desist - instead you posted eight messages which were extremely abusive and insulting.

"You later realised the enormity of your behaviour and tried to apologise.

"But you deserve to be punished for your actions. It can't be argued that a term of 56 days is too long for this offence.

This new picture of Fabrice Muamba sitting up in hospital was tweeted by his family on Friday

"By pleading guilty you admitted a racist intent to your comments."

Stacey was arrested after his comments on the social networking site were reported by other users.

A number of people challenged Stacey on Twitter following his first comment, and he responded with a number of offensive posts aimed at other Twitter users.

'Stigma'

Last week the court heard how Stacey posted the offensive comments shortly after the former England Under-21 star collapsed during the FA Cup quarter-final at White Hart Lane.

Magistrates were told police forces across Britain received complaints following the comments.

On Friday, Paul Hobson, defending Stacey, told the appeal hearing: "This should not define him, but it will leave a blot upon him forever.

"He has already had a short, sharp, shock, his life has changed very swiftly in just a fortnight.

"He has been made an example of and surely this will do enough to prevent others from acting in a similar way.

"Rarely will the court deal with an individual who has attracted as much stigma as this defendant - this has devastated him and his family and his friends."

Swansea University has suspended Stacey pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings.

He has also been de-registered as a player with Treorchy rugby club, where he has turned out for the second team on occasions.