A 59-year-old man has pleaded guilty to sending disgusting racist abuse to England women's football star Jess Carter via social media during last summer's European Championships.
Guilty Plea in Court
Nigel Dewale, from Great Harwood in Lancashire, admitted one count of sending malicious communications and possession of a weapon in a private place when he appeared at Blackburn Magistrates' Court. The court heard how the UK Football Policing Unit investigated a series of hateful messages sent to the England defender in July 2025, during the Women's Euros tournament.
Detectives traced the malicious posts to Dewale's home address. He was subsequently arrested in August and later charged. Dewale is now awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for March 25.
Police Condemn 'Abhorrent' Online Hate
Cheshire Police Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for football policing, strongly condemned the abuse. He stated that everyone is responsible for their words and actions online, and that posting on social media is no exception.
"Dewale sent hateful and malicious messages thinking that he would be able to hide behind his account name," Roberts said. "His comments were totally abhorrent, they caused emotional distress for Miss Carter and her family and I welcome the guilty plea today."
PC Dan Fish, Lancashire Police's dedicated football officer, echoed this sentiment, emphasising that the force does not tolerate hate in any form. "No-one should log on to social media and see the type of message posted by Dewale, which were frankly appalling," he said, adding that the prosecution sends a clear message that such actions have serious consequences.
Carter's Powerful Response to Abuse
Jess Carter, 28, was a key member of the Lionesses squad that successfully defended their European title last summer. Speaking after a semi-final match against Italy, the footballer opened up about the profound personal impact of the racist abuse.
"It's been pretty tough. Ever since the France game it started, and it was pretty tough," Carter revealed. She explained that the severity of the comments compelled her to speak out and seek support from her teammates, something she doesn't usually need.
Carter, who has mixed-race nieces and nephews, made a powerful statement about the ongoing issue of racism. "I understand everyone has got their own opinions on how we play... but the colour of my skin has nothing to do with that," she said.
She expressed hope that by speaking up, she might prevent even one person from making similar comments in the future. "If by speaking up it makes one silly person keep their mouth shut with certain comments, that's a big enough reason for me," Carter concluded, while also thanking the overwhelming support from fans.
