Man who posted racist messages about Carter avoids jail

A man who sent racially abusive messages to England footballer Jess Carter on social media has avoided jail but has been banned from football for four years.

Nigel Dewale, 60, sent the posts to Carter's TikTok account during the European Championships last year.

He was handed a six-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, a four-year football banning order and sentenced to undergo 10 days of community work.

He was also been handed a three-month curfew between 8pm and 6am and ordered to pay a fine totalling to £239.

Dewale pleaded guilty to sending a malicious message via a public communications network between June 19 and 23, 2025.

He also admitted the possession of an offensive weapon, namely an extendable baton, in a private place in February.

John Moran for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "When England's women were successfully winning a second straight Euros victory, Dewale chose racism over patriotism.

"This case should be a stark reminder to so-called keyboard warriors: online actions have consequences.

"This type of social media offending will not be tolerated. Those who peddle hate, on or off the pitch, will be brought to justice.

"We work closely with football authorities, including the Premier League and the Football Association, as well as police, clubs, and charities to stamp out hate in football.

"Hate crime can have an enormous impact on players and their mental health. The CPS takes this kind of offending very seriously and this case shows that where offensive content is reported to the police, we can and will bring offenders to justice."