BLACKBURN — Nigel Dewale, 60, admitted sending racially abusive messages on social media about England footballer Jess Carter. Blackburn Magistrates' Court sentenced Dewale to six weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, along with 10 days of community work, a four-year football banning order, a three-month curfew, and a £239 fine.

The messages included a derogatory reference to Carter's race and made baseless claims linking race to crimes including murder and grooming. Dewale posted the messages during the Women's Euro 2025 tournament in which England successfully defended their trophy.

At a previous hearing, Dewale pleaded guilty to sending a malicious message via a public communications network between 19 and 23 June 2025. He also admitted possession of an extendable baton, an offensive weapon, in a private place in February.

Lancashire Police said the UK Football Policing Unit traced the abusive messages to Dewale. Lancashire Police said Dewale was arrested in August. The UK Football Policing Unit said he admitted making the comments when interviewed.

The court heard that Dewale was intoxicated at home when he responded to a news article about police investigating online racial abuse received by Jess Carter following England's games against France and Sweden in the tournament.

District Judge Tony Watkin said Dewale had come very close to being sent to jail. The judge took into account the impact on Dewale's 20-year-old daughter, who suffers from epilepsy and for whom he is the primary carer.

"If there was ever a decision he made that he wishes he could take back, then it is this decision. It has filled him with a sense of shame. He has let himself down, his family and his community," said Bradley Hayes, defense lawyer. "He has instructed me to make a wholehearted apology to Ms Carter, her family and the wider women's football community for his actions, which he accepts are disgraceful and which he regrets deeply."

The court was told that Jess Carter decided to stop looking at social media last summer and handed control of her accounts over to her sister after experiencing racist abuse online. The court was told that the abuse left Carter feeling anxious and not wanting to leave her hotel.

"[Dewale's] comments were totally abhorrent, they caused emotional distress for Miss Carter and her family, and I welcome the sentence handed to him today," said Chief Constable Mark Roberts.

"For too long, online misogyny and racism have gone unchecked by big tech. But consequences create change, and today's sentence sends a clear message: we value women's sport, the toxic abuse of female athletes will not be tolerated, and there will be consequences," said Chris Boardman, Sport England chairman.