A 17-year-old boy from Preston has been ordered to pay Lord Alan Sugar £100 in compensation after sending him an offensive tweet.

The boy pleaded guilty to the charge at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

He was sentenced to an eight month referral to a youth offender panel, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge, as well as the compensation to Lord Sugar.

Lord Sugar tweeted: “One of my Twitter racial abusers was convicted yesterday at Chelmsford Magistrates Court.Very well done @EssexPoliceUK for tracking him down”

When a follower quizzed whether the force had anything better to do, Lord Sugar responded: “They do but the level of abuse was so great I had to ask for help and am truly grateful something had to be done .”