James White, the Manchester United fan previously convicted for wearing a shirt mocking Hillsborough victims, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for a series of offences including rape, sexual assault and domestic abuse.
White, 39, from St Michael's Crescent in Stockton, Warwickshire, was found guilty of 14 offences on June 9 2026 and sentenced on August 20 2026.
Hillsborough shirt conviction
White first came to public attention in June 2023 when he was pictured wearing a Manchester United shirt with the words 'Not Enough' printed on the back above the number 97, a direct reference to the 97 Liverpool supporters who died in the Hillsborough disaster in April 1989.
He pleaded guilty to displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and was banned from all regulated football games in the UK for four years, fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £400 and £85 in costs.
Investigation and charges
The investigation into White began following a 999 call at 1.08pm on November 30 2025, when a relative of the victim told police she had been attacked by White, that he had a knife, and he was still in the house.
The victim had called the relative to let him know she was in danger, after which White fled the address. She had bruising over her face and other injuries to her back and torso, and disclosed that White had threatened her with a knife prior to this report and had used it to cut her on her abdomen.
At 1.36pm, officers located White at a nearby pub and arrested him. Further enquiries found that over the course of five weeks between October 17 and November 30 2025, White had been involved in a pattern of violent and abusive behaviour against the victim, including rape and sexual assault.
Sentencing
White pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the jury found him guilty of all offences. The charges included two counts of rape of a woman over 16, assault of a female 13 and over by penetration with body part, engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in a relationship, five counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of threatening a person with a knife in a private place, threats to kill, and two counts of intentional strangulation.
Investigating officer DC Baylie Cairns of the Domestic Abuse and RASSO team said: "The victim escaped the cycle of abuse by having the courage to tell a family member it was taking place – at which point we were called and were able to take action against her abuser.
"Over the course of five weeks, James White subjected the victim to a campaign of horrific abuse, violence and sexual assaults. She showed remarkable bravery and courage in speaking to me about the offences committed against her.
"White has now been sentenced to 24 years in prison, preventing him from posing a risk to the victim and others. While nothing can undo the harm caused, we hope this sentence offers her some comfort and reassurance that justice has been served."
