A 60-year-old man has received a suspended jail sentence after posting racist messages online targeting England footballer Jess Carter.
Nigel Dewale, from Great Harwood, Lancashire, used his TikTok account, under the username Bogeyman, to send two offensive posts during last summer's Uefa women’s Euro 2025 tournament.
Dewale was reportedly "in drink" at home when he responded to a news article detailing police investigations into racial abuse previously directed at Carter following England’s matches against France and Sweden.
His posts included: "Women’s football is diabolical. Should not be on national TV. Brownies are racist murders (sic), fiddlers and groomers. End ov (sic)."
He continued: "Racist card again. Always brownies faking. This women’s football should not be on TV. Waste of airtime."
The messages were subsequently traced to Dewale, leading to his arrest and charge.
At Blackburn Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, he was handed a six-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months. He had previously pleaded guilty to sending a grossly offensive message via a public communications network.
Carter, 28, who plays for US team Gotham FC, was a key member of the Lionesses squad that successfully defended their title at the tournament held in Switzerland.
She announced during the tournament that she would be stepping back from managing her social media accounts to safeguard her mental health after being subjected to racist abuse.
Carter went on to start the final as England and Spain played out a 1-1 draw, with Alessia Russo cancelling out Mariona Caldentey’s opening goal.
The game went to penalties, with England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton proving to be the hero as the Lionesses secured a 3-1 victory in the shootout.
The win meant Sarina Wiegman’s side defended the title they won three years earlier following a 2-1 victory over Germany after extra time at Wembley, when Chloe Kelly scored the winning goal.
