Lord Sugar has taken to Twitter to thank police after a teenager was convicted for sending him an offensive tweet.

The 17-year-old boy, from Preston, Lancashire, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (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.

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

“The level of abuse was so great I had to ask for help and am truly grateful something had to be done.”