BLACKBURN, England (AP) — A 60-year-old man named Nigel Dewale has received a suspended jail sentence for posting racially abusive messages online targeted at England soccer player Jess Carter. Dewale, from Great Harwood in Lancashire, sent the messages through his TikTok account during the Women’s European Championship held last year. His posts were made in response to an article discussing police probes into racial abuse directed toward Carter after England’s matches against France and Sweden.
The abusive messages were subsequently traced back to Dewale, leading to his arrest and charges. On Wednesday, at Blackburn Magistrates' Court, he was handed a sentence of six weeks in custody, which is suspended for 12 months. Dewale had previously pleaded guilty to sending a grossly offensive message via a public communications network.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the court imposed a four-year football banning order on Dewale, although it was noted that he has not attended matches for "many years." Further sanctions included a mandatory three-month curfew and a requirement to complete a community order involving ten rehabilitation days.
Jess Carter, the 28-year-old defender who plays for Gotham FC in the United States, was notably impacted by the racist abuse. Following the incident, she decided to stop using social media, with prosecutor Graeme Tindall revealing that the abuse left her “anxious and genuinely scared,” resulting in a reluctance to leave her hotel during the Euros.
Carter has since become an advocate, speaking out against the stereotypes faced by Black women in Britain. During the sentencing, District Judge Tony Watkin remarked that Dewale was “very close indeed” to receiving a jail term. However, he took into consideration the potential repercussions for Dewale’s 20-year-old daughter, who has epilepsy and relies on him as her primary caregiver. One of Dewale’s defenders, Bradley Hayes, noted that the daughter would be “very much disadvantaged” if Dewale were to serve an immediate custodial sentence.
Judge Watkin emphasized that Dewale's actions targeted Carter simply because she was a prominent female footballer, causing her substantial distress and fear. He highlighted that offenses committed behind a screen are not less serious, stating, “In this instance, they caused someone who had risen to prominence through her talent and ability to have to change her behaviors.”
This case underlines the serious implications that online hate speech can have on individuals and their lives. Dewale's conviction serves as a reminder of the responsibility individuals have while engaging in communication on social media platforms, where anonymity can sometimes lead to harmful behavior without accountability.
