Burnley fan behind White Lives Matter banner reveals 60 people organised stunt

Jake Hepple (pictured left with English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson) has claimed responsibility for the stun

The Burnley football fan behind the White Lives Matter banner above the Etihad stadium has claimed he is not racist and would do it all again.

Jake Hepple, who posted a video of the stunt online and has used the P*** word on Facebook and Twitter, admitted he sometimes gets ‘a bit drunk and coked up and uses offensive language’.

But the 24-year-old from Colne, near Burnley, insisted to MailOnline: ‘I’m not racist. I know people are trying to make out to be one but I’m not.

‘I’ve got lots of Black and Asian friends and this banner was actually inspired by the Black Lives Movement.

‘We were not trying to offend the movement or black people. I believe that it’s also important to acknowledge that white lives matter too. That’s all we were trying to say.’

Mr Hepple said police visited him at home on Tuesday night to tell him he would not face criminal charges.

He said they also offered him protection should he or his family face threats in the future as a result of the banner.

He added: ‘The police told me that I haven’t committed any crime and haven’t done anything wrong.

‘In fact, they asked me if I was OK and wanted any protection, just in case people try to target me.

‘I don’t understand why I’m being treated like a criminal and believe that there has been a total over reaction to what happened. Everything has been blown out of proportion, it’s ridiculous.’

A plane carrying a banner reading ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ was flown over the Etihad stadium ahead of the team’s match with Manchester on Monday 

Mr Hepple claimed responsibility for the pre-match stunt on Monday and wrote on Facebook: ‘I’d like to take this time to apologise… to absolutely f***ing nobody!’

The Suicide Squad, a group of far-right Burnley fans, are believed to have crowdfunded the flight and its message ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’, which flew over the stadium just after Manchester City and Burnley FC players had taken the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Lancashire Police yesterday confirmed Mr Hepple, who has posted in support of the EDL and has been pictured with its former leader, Tommy Robinson, had not been found to have committed a criminal offence.

What criminal offences would the police have looked for?

Lancashire Police said they found no criminal offence had been committed after Monday night’s incident.

Similar unrelated cases in the past saw authorities issue charges under: 

Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 – A person is guilty of an offence if they ‘use threatening [or abusive] words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour’ or ‘displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening [or abusive].’

Air Navigation Order 2009 – This makes it an offence to fly over a congested area at a height lower than 1,000ft. It does not appear this happened in Monday night’s incident.   

Chief superintendent Russ Procter said: ‘Lancashire Constabulary has been in liaison with Greater Manchester Police, the Aviation Authority and the Crown Prosecution Service regards the ‘White Lives Matter’ banner that was flown over the Etihad Stadium.

‘After assessing all the information available surrounding this incident we have concluded that there are no criminal offences that have been disclosed at this time.

‘We will continue to work with our partners at the football club and within the local authority.’

Despite this Mr Hepple’s employer, an engineering company in Burnley called Paradigm Precision, said they were looking into his conduct and would announce any action soon.

Blackpool Airport, which was used by the plane, announced it had suspended all banner towing operations ‘with immediate effect’ and said it ‘did not condone’ the message.

Mr Hepple posted an image of the plane on Facebook on Monday and wrote: ‘I’d like to take this time to apologise… to absolutely f***ing nobody!

‘It’s now apparently racist to say White Lives Matter, the day after three white people got murdered in a park in Reading, but all we’ve seen on the TV is Black Lives Matter after George Floyd got murdered. What a mad world we live in.’

His stunt led to outrage and has been widely condemned, with Burnley captain Ben Mee saying he was ‘shamed and embarrassed’.

Speaking after the match, which his side lost 5-0, he noted the Burnley players had heard ‘whispers’ something may have been planned.

The company that operated the plane, Air Ads, is based in Stockport and flies from Blackpool Airport.

But it emerged yesterday the airport had suspended flights operated by the company pending an investigation.  

One of its former directors, Alan Elliott, was fined £2,000 in 2017 for flying 400ft from Goodison Park after being paid by an Everton fan to display a sign emblazoned with ‘Thank you Mr Kenwright’ in support of the club chairman.