A SUNDERLAND teenager has been charged with sending an offensive Tweet about the two Newcastle United fans killed in the Ukrainian plane tragedy.

Sunderland-based 18-year-old Mitchell Tace Chapman’s message relates to dedicated Newcastle United fans Liam Sweeney and John Alder, who both died on the Malaysian Airlines flight, Northumbria Police said.

Mr Chapman, of Pegwood Road, will appear before Sunderland Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 11, charged with making a malicious communication.

Flight MH17 came down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday, July 17, killing all 298 people on board.

The death of the Mr Sweeney and Mr Alder, who were travelling to watch their team play pre-season friendlies in New Zealand, brought football fans from across the North-East together, with a charity fund founded by Sunderland AFC supporters having raised more than £30,000 in less than a week.