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Fan banned for Bent mother abuse | Fan banned for Bent mother abuse |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A football fan who racially abused the mother of Premier League footballer Darren Bent has been banned from attending matches for three years. | A football fan who racially abused the mother of Premier League footballer Darren Bent has been banned from attending matches for three years. |
Sunderland supporter John Davison, 26, shouted abuse at Shirley Bent after her son's team played at Wigan Athletic's DW Stadium in November last year. | Sunderland supporter John Davison, 26, shouted abuse at Shirley Bent after her son's team played at Wigan Athletic's DW Stadium in November last year. |
Davison, of Avondale Terrace, Chester-le-Street, admitted using threatening words in a racially aggravated manner. | Davison, of Avondale Terrace, Chester-le-Street, admitted using threatening words in a racially aggravated manner. |
Wigan Magistrates' Court heard he had since apologised to Mrs Bent. | |
Davison shouted at her as she walked past him on the way to watch her son play at Wigan on 28 November. | |
She turned to see a group of men laughing and giving each other "high fives" in the stadium car park, the court heard. | She turned to see a group of men laughing and giving each other "high fives" in the stadium car park, the court heard. |
They returned to a nearby bar, where Mrs Bent later pointed them out to security officials. | They returned to a nearby bar, where Mrs Bent later pointed them out to security officials. |
So we get beat by Wigan and to make matters worse my mum gets racially abused by a Sunderland fan Darren Bent | |
Police brought Davison to her and she told him she only wanted an apology. | Police brought Davison to her and she told him she only wanted an apology. |
The court was told that he said sorry and added that the Sunderland and England forward was one of his favourite players and he would get a tattoo of him on his arm. | The court was told that he said sorry and added that the Sunderland and England forward was one of his favourite players and he would get a tattoo of him on his arm. |
He went on to send her a bunch of flowers and a letter of apology. | He went on to send her a bunch of flowers and a letter of apology. |
Mrs Bent changed her mind on not taking further action against him when she told her son about the incident after his team's 1-0 defeat. | Mrs Bent changed her mind on not taking further action against him when she told her son about the incident after his team's 1-0 defeat. |
Colin Rawson, defending, said Davison - a season-ticket holder - had been a "loyal supporter" of Sunderland for 20 years and "loved" the club. | |
He told the court: "It was one specific word used, not a nice word to use. It was one used that he deeply, deeply regrets. | |
"His greatest punishment could be not to support his team for many, many years and to have had the matter publicised in detail," Mr Rawson added. | |
After the game striker Bent wrote on his Twitter page: "So we get beat by Wigan and to make matters worse my mum gets racially abused by a SUNDERLAND fan. I won't stand for that." | |
In addition to the three-year ban, Davison was fined £170 and ordered to pay Mrs Bent £50 compensation for any distress caused to her. | In addition to the three-year ban, Davison was fined £170 and ordered to pay Mrs Bent £50 compensation for any distress caused to her. |
He must also pay £85 court costs and a £15 victim impact surcharge. |
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