British man fined for pretending to be a ghost in a graveyard

A man has been fined after he caused distress to mourners in a British cemetery by pretending to be a ghost.

Anthony Stallard, 24, had been playing football in the cemetery with a friend when he began making “ghostly” noises at people visiting the graves of their loved ones.

“While the football was going on this defendant was effectively singing loudly and being disrespectful in among the graves,” prosecutor Tim Concannon said.

“He was throwing himself backwards, waving his arms about and going ‘wooooooh’… I’m assuming he was pretending to be a ghost.”

Stollard pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words likely to cause distress and was fined £75 (AUD$136).

Charges that Stollard and his friend damaged gravestones during their football match were dismissed after witnesses failed to appear at court.