A man who sprayed homophobic and racist graffiti outside a football club stadium next to his home has been convicted.

Armed with spray paint and an alphabet stencil, Peter Aird, 57, left his home address in the early hours of 30 September 2025 and walked the short distance to Bramall Lane - the home of Sheffield United Football Club.

He proceeded to paint a racist and homophobic message six times on walls and pillars outside the ground.

Peter Aird denied responsibility for the graffiti, but the Crown Prosecution Service disproved his claim at trial at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 15 September 2026.

The prosecution relied on CCTV showing Aird leaving home shortly before the graffiti was sprayed and returning minutes later. Officers also found an alphabet stencil matching the painted letters, along with purple spray paint and paint-stained gloves at his address.

A stencil featuring the Nazi SS insignia was also recovered, which the prosecution said demonstrated his mindset before the offence.

Matthew Rose, a Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “This conviction demonstrates the CPS’s commitment to working with partners to tackle racism and homophobia and to holding offenders like Aird to account.

“Football is for everyone, and we remain committed to prosecuting those who seek to spread hatred and division wherever the evidence supports a prosecution.

“We are grateful to South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield United FC for their cooperation.”

Aird will be sentenced on 30 October 2026 and the CPS will apply for a hate crime sentencing uplift.