Sunderland fan banned for Darren Bent mother abuse

Darren Bent signed for Sunderland in August

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

He must also pay £85 court costs and a £15 victim impact surcharge.