A man who posted a racist comment about a Premier League footballer online has been given a three-year football banning order.
John Southwell, 64, posted the offensive comment on Facebook at 12.18pm on 11th December 2023 under a news article about the Chelsea FC striker Nicolas Jackson.
The article related to a controversial incident the striker had been involved in during Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Everton the previous day.
After being identified, Southwell, who is a Burnley FC supporter, was charged with sending by a public communication network an offensive / indecent / obscene / menacing message / matter.
Southwell, of Dale Street, Earby, admitted the offence when he appeared at Blackburn Magistrates Court. He was fined £385, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £138 victim surcharge.
PC Byron Worrall, from East Division, said: “This case is unusual in that a football banning order has been issued for an offence committed away from an actual fixture and on social media.
“I welcome the sentence and hope it sends out a strong message that racist behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated by Lancashire Police, whether it be in public or while hiding behind a keyboard.”
East Lancs man sentenced after driving more than 150mph on M65
First Pride in Place funding approved as Burnley’s £20m regeneration plan moves into delivery
Accrington man jailed for six years for rape
Burnley Council faces £1.7m budget shortfall
Man sentenced for drug offences after being caught with cocaine in Nelson
Free bulky waste collection becomes ‘victim of its own success’
‘Chop shop’ and vehicle parts found after police discovery in Accrington
Blackburn rogue roofer must pay £43,700 in compensation after 'shoddy, unnecessary' work
