A teenager has been ordered to spend eight months on a youth offenders panel after sending Lord Alan Sugar an offensive tweet.

The 17-year-old from Preston, Lancashire, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court yesterday (July 29) charged with sending Lord Sugar, who lives in Chigwell, a tweet which was deemed to be offensive.

The boy, who pleaded guilty to the offence, was charged £85 in costs, a £15 victim surcharge and was sentenced to an eight month referral to a youth offender panel.

He was also ordered to pay Lord Sugar £100 compensation.