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.”
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