Man who sent racist abuse to England defender Jess Carter spared jail

Nigel Dewale, 60, of Prospect Street, appeared before Blackburn Magistrates’ Court charged with possessing an offensive weapon in a private place and sending offensive communications over a public communication network.

The defendant sent the racist posts to Carter’s TikTok account, thinking that he could hide behind his account name, BogeyMan.

In one post, he wrote: “Women’s football is diabolical. Should not be on national TV.

“Brownies are racist, murderers, fiddlers and groomers. End ov.”

He also posted: “Racist card again. Always brownies faking.

“This women’s football should not be on TV. Waste of airtime.”

Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, outlined that the centre-back had become anxious as a result of the abuse and that she did not want to leave the hotel as she was scared she would come face to face with someone who made these comments.

Ms Carter also had to take herself off social media as a result of the abuse.

He said: “The situation made her feel anxious as she was never subject to racist abuse before.

“She did not want to leave the hotel as she was scared she would come face to face with someone who would have made these comments, and she would stay away which affected her confidence.”

The Magistrate, Mr Walkden, said that this demonstrated the harm of the communications, because she had to alter her behaviour online and in the real world due to the substantial distress.

He said: “The victim in relation to the offence is Jessica Carter, a well-known professional footballer. She became subject to online racist abuse, you were one of the perpetrators and you targeted her because she was a female footballer.

“The action was said to be impulsive, and you did at least have time to reflect upon what you had said before going to post another message. There is a view held by some that these are less serious because they are behind a screen. The opposite is true.

“The messages are circulated to 10,000 people and they have real-world consequences. She came to prominence through her talents and represented her country at the highest level but she had to change her behaviour.”

Bradley Hayes, mitigating, outlined that his guilty plea was entered at the earliest opportunity, that he felt significant shame for his comments and that he was the primary caregiver to his daughter.

He said: “He wants to apologise to the women’s football community and he fully understands the impact it has had on Ms Carter. He fully understands how his actions have contributed to her distress.

“It has been a lesson for him to understand the consequences of his actions and some education into the dangers of social media, which was being used to distort and brainwash people and to normalise the intolerable views, and he fully accepts he fell foul of that, and that is the reason he put before the court for his actions.

“That is why he has put forward that he has gotten rid of social media, and he accepts he caused a young lady a significant amount of distress.”

Dewale also accepted possession of an offensive weapon, namely an extendable baton, which was found in his living room during a search of his home.

Carter made five appearances for the Lionesses in their successful Women’s Euros campaign this summer, including in the final against Spain, which England won on penalties.

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She told ITV News that the psychological impact of the abuse she suffered made her feel “scared” when England head coach Sarina Wiegman told her she had been selected to play in the Euro final, which England won on penalties against Spain to retain the title.

That’s the first time I’ve ever been scared; too scared to play,” she said.

“I think it was a mixture of such a big game, but then on top of that, (I was) scared of whatever abuse might come with it, whether it’s football-based or whether it was going to be the racial abuse that was going to come with it because I did something wrong.”

Cheshire Constabulary chief constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) lead for football policing, said at the time of the arrest: “The messages directed towards Jess Carter were appalling, and I would like to commend her for standing up to this abuse and assisting with our investigation.

“Nobody should be subjected to such disgusting abuse, and I expect that today’s arrest will be the first of many over the coming months.

“We want to make it clear that racist abuse of this nature will not be tolerated. Everyone is responsible for what they do and say, and we want to ensure offenders cannot hide behind a social media profile to post vile comments.”

Dewale was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation days, subject to a football banning order and a curfew for three months.