A Singaporean teenager has been charged with harassment after death threats were sent to Brighton striker Neal Maupay and his family via social media last year.

Derek Ng De Ren, 19, was in Singapore when the threats were sent to Maupay via Instagram direct message.

He will now face four charges for using “threatening words with the intent to cause distress”.

The court heard today that messages, sent on four occasions in June and July came after the Seagulls win over Arsenal in the Premier League on June 20.

The death threats first came to light after the messages were reported to the Premier League via its online abuse reporting system.

In August, the Premier League said its investigators had tracked the location of the person responsible to Singapore.

Maupay opened about about the abuse he had received last year in an interview with the Premier League in October.

Read: 'It is not OK' - Maupay opens up about racist online abuse in candid conversation

In a statement given to The Argus, Albion have welcomed the prosecution: "Brighton & Hove Albion has a zero tolerance policy on abuse, hate and discrimination, on or off line.

"The club expects all football supporters to adhere to some basic levels of respect, as the vast majority do, but those who choose not to will be faced with sanctions and, where appropriate, criminal charges and prosecution.

"As the case has not yet concluded, the club will not make any further comment at this stage."