Sentence for Racial Abuse Against Jess Carter
A man who sent racially abusive messages on social media to England footballer Jess Carter has been sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.
Nigel Dewale, 60, sent the posts to Carter's TikTok account, under his username "Bogeyman", during the Women's Euro 2025 tournament in which England successfully defended their trophy.
The messages included a derogatory reference to Carter's race and made baseless claims linking race to crimes such as murder and grooming.
Dewale, of Great Harwood in Lancashire, was also sentenced to 10 days of community work, given a four-year football banning order, a three-month curfew, and fined £239 at Blackburn Magistrates' Court.
At a previous hearing, Dewale admitted sending a malicious message via a public communications network between 19 and 23 June 2025.
He also admitted possession of an offensive weapon, specifically an extendable baton, in a private place in February.
Jess Carter's Football Career and Impact of Abuse
Central defender Jess Carter plays her club football in the United States for Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League, having previously represented Chelsea and Birmingham City in the UK.
The 28-year-old, from Warwick, previously stated she was stepping away from social media after experiencing racist abuse online during last year's Women's Euros.
The court heard Dewale was "in drink" at home when he responded to a news article about police investigating online racial abuse received by Carter following England's games against France and Sweden in the tournament.
In addition to making racist comments, he wrote: "Women's football is diabolical. Should not be on national TV" and "Waste of airtime".
Condemnation and Police Response
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham released a statement condemning the "disgusting racism" faced by Carter in the wake of July's abuse.
The court was told Carter decided to stop looking at social media last summer and handed control of her accounts over to her sister.
The abuse left Carter feeling anxious and reluctant to leave her hotel, the court heard.
Lancashire Police stated the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) traced the messages to Dewale, who was arrested in August.
The UKFPU reported that Dewale admitted making the comments during his interview.
Cheshire's Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs' Council's football policing lead, said:
"[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."
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