Alfie Perkins, 19, was convicted at Birmingham Magistrates' Court of sending three offensive communications - Twitter posts - on March 10 this year

A teenage Birmingham City fan who sent 'sick' tweets about the late brother of Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish after drinking nine pints of lager has been found guilty of sending offensive messages.

Alfie Perkins, 19, was convicted at Birmingham Magistrates' Court of sending three offensive communications - Twitter posts - on March 10 this year.

The offences happened on the day of the most recent Birmingham City v Aston Villa derby, a Championship fixture which Villa won 1-0 at St Andrew's, with Grealish scoring the winner

Perkins, of Chelmsley Wood, wearing a smart, grey checked jacket, had denied the charges.

The court heard Perkins, a student at the University of Salford, had been drinking from 7am when he posted three tweets minutes after Grealish was attacked on the pitch by a fan who ran from the stands.

Birmingham City fan Paul Mitchell, 27, was jailed for 14 weeks following the shocking attack on the Villa captain during the Second City derby on March 10.

One of the tweets posted by Perkins showed a picture of the headstone of Mr Grealish's brother, Keelan Grealish, who died in tragic circumstances as a baby.

The text on the tweet said: 'He may have scored but will never bring his dead brother back and that brings me more satisfaction than anything else ever could.'

Another tweet read: 'Grealish went down quicker than his brother got lowered into the grave.'

The third said: 'Where's your brother gone? Come on!'

Simon Brownsey, prosecuting, told the court there was 'no dispute' that Perkins sent the tweets but the court had to decide whether they would be adjuged 'grossly offensive' by 'any reasonable member of society'.

One of the tweets posted by Perkins showed a picture of the headstone of Mr Grealish's brother, Keelan Grealish, who died in tragic circumstances as a baby

Another tweet composed by Perkins said: 'Grealish went down quicker than his brother got lowered into the grave'

John McGregor, defending, said Perkins accepted the comments expressed in the tweets were 'sick' and he had not tried to hide them.

But he said it fell to the court to be the 'moral arbiter' of what was said.

Perkins was arrested on Match 13 and told police he had been 'encouraged' to post the tweets by those around him at the game.

He said he had drunk nine pints of lager - starting at 7am on the day of the noon kick-off.

But he told the court his actions had been 'wrong' and he had 'great respect' for Grealish, who he described as a 'great footballer'.

Perkins said he had not intended to offend the footballer and had not sent the tweets to him or tagged him in them.

Birmingham City fan Paul Mitchell, 27, was jailed for 14 weeks following the shocking attack on the Villa captain during the Second City derby on March 10

He said he had been banned from Blues matches for life and had written to Grealish to apologise.

Perkins said: 'I had nine pints, I started at 7am and the kick off was 12pm.

'The pubs in the city centre opened at 7am that day.'

He said he found the picture of Grealish's brother's gravestone on social media and described it as 'banter with friends'.

Mr McGregor told the court the teenager was just 'reacting to what was going on' at the match.

'He hasn't conducted a hate campaign against Grealish,' he said.

'The tweet spread like wildfire, he never intended to put it beyond his group of friends.'

Perkins was fined £120, ordered to pay £200 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

The chairwoman of the bench said magistrates had taken into account his 'age and immaturity' and the fact he'd drinking.

She told him: 'I think being banned from life from watching your favourite football team is a punishment in itself.'