Bradley Lowery: Man pleads guilty to taunting fans

Dale Houghton will be sentenced next month

A Sheffield Wednesday fan who used a photo of Bradley Lowery to taunt opposition supporters has admitted a public order offence.

Dale Houghton, 31, was pictured laughing as he brandished the image of the six-year-old during a match against Sunderland - the team Bradley supported before he died of cancer in 2017.

He pleaded guilty at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on Monday.

District judge James Gould described his actions as "utterly deplorable".

Houghton, of Black Carr Road, Rotherham, was released on bail ahead of a sentencing hearing on 17 November.

The judge said all sentencing options were open, including a prison term.

Houghton was charged after pictures circulated on X, formerly Twitter, showing two men laughing at Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium on Friday, as the defendant held up a photo of Bradley on his phone.

During a police interview Houghton described his behaviour as "enjoyable banter" and said he had "found it funny," prosecutor Jade Scott told the court.

Bradley's mother Gemma Lowery, who saw the picture of Houghton on Facebook the day after the match, said his actions were "unforgivable" and "disrespectful" not only to her son but also other children suffering from cancer.

In a handwritten statement read out in court, she said: "This image has made me feel so many emotions, I find it hard to put into words."

She added she had "nothing but loving memories" of her son and felt "upset" that his image had been used "in order to get a reaction".

Lost his job

Bradley, of Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma - a rare type of cancer - when he was 18 months old.

He went on to be the club's mascot and became "best mates" with his hero, striker Jermain Defoe, before his death.

Constance Coombs, Houghton's solicitor, said the defendant was "disgusted by what he did" and was "very remorseful".

She said Houghton accepted he had "gone too far" during "mutual goading" between the two sets of football fans and had searched for the image of Bradley after "being shown a Sheffield United badge" by Sunderland supporters.

Ms Coombs told the court Houghton's behaviour had caused "considerable uproar" and led to him losing his job as a window-fitter.

She said his "totally unacceptable" actions were "out of character" and may have been influenced by alcohol.

Bradley Lowery was supported by former England striker Jermaine Defoe during his illness

Judge Gould told Houghton his actions were "utterly deplorable" and the photo posted online showed him "plainly revelling in what he did".

Houghton, who admitted one count of intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress, also faces a football banning order when he is sentenced next month.

He left the court by a back door with security staff helping him to get into a waiting car as he concealed his face.

Houghton's bail conditions stipulate he must not attend any football matches or come within a mile of Hillsborough on match day.

Sheffield Wednesday's chief operating officer Liam Dooley condemned Houghton's "utterly deplorable behaviour" which he said "in no way represents the values of the club".

More than £18,000 has been donated to an appeal set up by Owls fans after Friday's match to raise money for a charity founded in Bradley's name.

The Bradley Lowery Foundation, set up by his parents, said the money raised would help to build a holiday home in Scarborough "for sick children to be able to go and make memories".

In an interview with BBC Radio Tees, Bradley's mother said the support was "overwhelming".

"Times are tight and all charities are struggling at the moment, so the fact that people are donating these funds to put a positive spin on the situation is just incredible," Ms Lowery added.

She said Houghton's actions had been "really upsetting for myself and my husband".

"We don't ever want to see Bradley's image portrayed in such a negative, awful light," she added.

"It has really hit us hard."

Leanne Wood, from Sheffield Wednesday Women's Supporters' Group, said she set up the fundraising page in response to being "absolutely disgusted" by Houghton's actions.

She added: "Wednesday fans actually have hearts of gold."