Video shows man painting racist & homophobic messages outside Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane ground

Officers found an alphabet stencil matching the painted letters, along with a stencil featuring the Nazi SS insignia, at his nearby address

A man who sprayed homophobic and racist graffiti outside Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane stadium – which is located next to his home – has been convicted.

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

As the video shows, Aird proceeded to paint a message, which has been described as “racist and homophobic” by prosecutors, six times on walls and pillars outside the ground.

The exact wording of the messages daubed on walls and pillars has not been released.

Aird, of Bramall Lane, Sheffield, denied responsibility for the graffiti, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) disproved his claim at trial at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (September 15, 2026.)

A CPS spokesperson said: “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.”

Aird was found guilty of offences of racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress – writing; display threatening/abusive writing likely to cause harassment/alarm/distress; criminal damage and failing to surrender to police/court bail.

He is now due to be sentenced at the same court next month, when the CPS says it will apply for a hate crime sentencing uplift.

Speaking after Aird was convicted, 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.”

The Star