A man has been been charged over an offensive Tweet about Bedford's Captain Sir Tom Moore

A 35-year-old man has been charged after allegedly posting an offensive Tweet about Captain Sir Tom Moore, police have said.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On Friday 5 February 2021, we received a report of an offensive Tweet about Captain Sir Tom Moore who died on Tuesday 2 February.

“A 35-year-old man has subsequently been arrested and charged in connection with communication offences and is due to appear at Lanark Sheriff Court on Wednesday 17 February.”

It is understood that the man has been charged under the Communications Act 2003, which states: “A person is guilty of an offence if he sends by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.”

Captain Sir Tom Moore raised more than £32million during the first coronavirus lockdown for the NHS by walking laps around his garden in Marston Moretaine. He had initially started his fundraising campaign to raise £1,000 for the NHS.

The 100 year old died in Bedford Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19.

The Second World War veteran’s family said the last year of Sir Tom’s life was “nothing short of remarkable” and that he had “experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of”.

Following his death, he was honoured with a national clap, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Ellie Orton, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, said Sir Tom has left a “huge and lasting legacy”.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, she said: “He has left a huge and lasting legacy in the NHS Charities because of the absolutely phenomenal fundraising he did himself.

“We’ve never known anything like this in NHS Charities and I’m not sure any charity has either.

“His legacy and the funds he has raised and the funds he has inspired others to raise have reached the length and breadth of the UK.”