A prankster who dressed as Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi for Halloween is now at risk of imprisonment.
David Wootton posted photos of himself in an Arabic-style headdress, a T-shirt with “I love Ariana Grande,” and a rucksack emblazoned with “Boom” and “TNT.” His disturbing costume, accompanied by the caption “bet I get kicked out of the party,” sparked outrage on social media, with many condemning the stunt.
Wootton, 40, was arrested and recently pleaded guilty to sending an offensive message online. He is facing up to two years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3.
The 2017 attack by Abedi, who killed 22 people, including children, and himself at Manchester Arena, occurred at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.
Wootton’s case, initially heard at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court, has been transferred to York Crown Court. He has since changed his name and relocated to London.
Andrea Hill, 40, who testified against him, stated, “He’s a scumbag who deserves everything coming to him,” as reported by The Sun. “I hope his guilty plea brings some comfort to the victims’ families.”
North Yorkshire Police confirmed his arrest on November 1 following complaints about the offensive costume. The charges include using a public communication network to send offensive messages.
