(UPDATED) SAD: SOME PEOPLE ARE SIMPLY DISGRACEFUL

A man has been charged after reports an image of Bradley Lowery was used to taunt opposition football fans.

The alleged incident happened at Sheffield Wednesday's home game on Friday against Sunderland - the team the six-year-old boy supported before he died of cancer in 2017.

Dale Houghton, 31, from Rotherham, has been charged with a public order offence after being arrested on Saturday.

He is due to appear in court on Monday.

South Yorkshire Police said Mr Houghton had been remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at Sheffield Magistrates' Court.

He has been charged under section 4a of the Public Order Act - causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress - and also faces a football banning order.

A statement from the force said a 27-year-old man who was also arrested on Saturday has been released on bail "while further enquiries are conducted".

Sheffield Wednesday fans have donated thousands of pounds to a foundation set up in Bradley Lowery's name since reports of the alleged offence circulated online.

A statement from the Bradley Lowery foundation said it had been "so overwhelmed" and was "thankful" for the support.




Updated


Bradley Lowery: Two held over 'taunts' aimed at Sunderland fans
By Julia Bryson

Two men have been arrested following reports of football supporters using an image of Bradley Lowery to taunt opposition fans.

An investigation was launched following Sheffield Wednesday's Friday night home match against Sunderland.

Bradley supported the North East club before he died of cancer aged six in 2017.

South Yorkshire Police said two men - aged 31 and 27 - are being held on suspicion of outraging public decency.

They were arrested on Saturday evening and both remain in custody.

Sheffield Wednesday previously said it would support the investigation after an image of the alleged public order offence appeared online.

"We roundly condemn this outrageous and utterly deplorable behaviour," a spokesman said.

"We can only apologise for the undoubted distress caused to Bradley's family and friends."

Bradley, of Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, was a Sunderland fan, who 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.

His mother, Gemma Lowery, said in a statement through the Bradley Lowery Foundation that police had been in touch to check on her wellbeing and were taking it very seriously.

She said: "Understandably people are angry, if I wasn't so upset I'd be angry too.

"Bradley was and still is well loved in the football community, which I'm eternally grateful for, but I must ask that everyone lets the police do their job, and deal with the low lives."

She added: "I want to thank Sheffield Wednesday, for their quick condemnation, and the support their fans have shown.

"Like we always say, cancer has no colours, and as we all know it can affect anyone at any time."

Well-wishers raised more than £700,000 in 2016 to pay for Bradley to be given antibody treatment in New York, but medics then found his cancer had grown and his family was told his illness was terminal.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

If found guilty ban them for life.

I don’t like violence but it would not concern me if a few Sunderland lads give them two a good hiding

I don’t like violence but it would not concern me if a few Sunderland lads give them two a good hiding

Even better if it was Sheff Wed fans dishing it out to them but like you I don't condone that.

It just baffles me. How did these clowns think this was going to go?

Scum.
They've been identified and arrested.

Lowest of the low, Bradley brought smiles to all nt just his beloved Sunderland. Hope the book is thrown at them and not just a slap on the wrists

Lowest of the low, Bradley brought smiles to all nt just his beloved Sunderland. Hope the book is thrown at them and not just a slap on the wrists

I agree; and to think it came from a couple of 'fans' of the stadium that suffered the Hillsbrough tragedy...

Absolutely disgraceful and sickening behaviour.

As said above by snoopystorm, hope they are punished by the authorities as much as the law will allow.

Pictures of them are all over social media so they will be recognised in the area by SWFC fans.


Tragically, it was announced today by Sheffield Wednesday that a young fan of their own has sadly died after a cancer battle. RIP.

A man has been charged after reports an image of Bradley Lowery was used to taunt opposition football fans.

The alleged incident happened at Sheffield Wednesday's home game on Friday against Sunderland - the team the six-year-old boy supported before he died of cancer in 2017.

Dale Houghton, 31, from Rotherham, has been charged with a public order offence after being arrested on Saturday.

He is due to appear in court on Monday.

South Yorkshire Police said Mr Houghton had been remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at Sheffield Magistrates' Court.

He has been charged under section 4a of the Public Order Act - causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress - and also faces a football banning order.

A statement from the force said a 27-year-old man who was also arrested on Saturday has been released on bail "while further enquiries are conducted".

Sheffield Wednesday fans have donated thousands of pounds to a foundation set up in Bradley Lowery's name since reports of the alleged offence circulated online.

A statement from the Bradley Lowery foundation said it had been "so overwhelmed" and was "thankful" for the support.

It’s worse than disgraceful, both should go to prison for this.

Real low life’s.

I saw this on socials on Saturday, I decided not to comment until it was proven true, which it sadly has been.

Its beyond despicable and cowardly, and these two brothers are the lowest of the low and their replies to people who have messaged them are disgusting. They still haven't taken their FBs down which surprises me as they've had 1000s of comments, addresses have been revealed, the local pub team have banned him and got rid and the employer has been contacted.

They need to be dealt with severely by the law but they've also put a massive target on their backs and I can see something happening for sure.

I saw this on socials on Saturday, I decided not to comment until it was proven true, which it sadly has been.

Its beyond despicable and cowardly, and these two brothers are the lowest of the low and their replies to people who have messaged them are disgusting. They still haven't taken their FBs down which surprises me as they've had 1000s of comments, addresses have been revealed, the local pub team have banned him and got rid and the employer has been contacted.

They need to be dealt with severely by the law but they've also put a massive target on their backs and I can see something happening for sure.

It’s absolutely bonkers. Surely they would realise this couldn’t go well.

Mind you, remember the cardiff fan who sent the texts in about Terry Coles and Alan Davies for the Millennium big screen. He would never get away with that nowadays and similar would happen to him. He was one of the most intelligent guys I know just did it for a laugh (it wasn’t funny). Wonder if these guys just thought that.

Not a defence at all I can’t fathom doing something like that.

When I saw the photo’s yesterday I honestly thought that it was photo shopped as nobody would be so inhumane,stupid or just plain……..
As for people saying jail them,no chuck them in the Sunderland end next game

I saw this on socials on Saturday, I decided not to comment until it was proven true, which it sadly has been.

Its beyond despicable and cowardly, and these two brothers are the lowest of the low and their replies to people who have messaged them are disgusting. They still haven't taken their FBs down which surprises me as they've had 1000s of comments, addresses have been revealed, the local pub team have banned him and got rid and the employer has been contacted.

They need to be dealt with severely by the law but they've also put a massive target on their backs and I can see something happening for sure.

It’s absolutely bonkers. Surely they would realise this couldn’t go well.

Mind you, remember the cardiff fan who sent the texts in about Terry Coles and Alan Davies for the Millennium big screen. He would never get away with that nowadays and similar would happen to him. He was one of the most intelligent guys I know just did it for a laugh (it wasn’t funny). Wonder if these guys just thought that.

Not a defence at all I can’t fathom doing something like that.

I looked at the Sheffield forum when this started to break and snowball on Sat and they were as disgusted as everyone else.

They are not only cowardly but are obviously idiots as I've seen the brother's responses and they are unbelievable, talk about making a bad situation worse.

It honestly wouldn't surprise me if they are given police protection, such is the outrage. No one to blame but themselves for the consequences, which I reckon will be severe, one way or another.

I saw this on socials on Saturday, I decided not to comment until it was proven true, which it sadly has been.

Its beyond despicable and cowardly, and these two brothers are the lowest of the low and their replies to people who have messaged them are disgusting. They still haven't taken their FBs down which surprises me as they've had 1000s of comments, addresses have been revealed, the local pub team have banned him and got rid and the employer has been contacted.

They need to be dealt with severely by the law but they've also put a massive target on their backs and I can see something happening for sure.

It’s absolutely bonkers. Surely they would realise this couldn’t go well.

Mind you, remember the cardiff fan who sent the texts in about Terry Coles and Alan Davies for the Millennium big screen. He would never get away with that nowadays and similar would happen to him. He was one of the most intelligent guys I know just did it for a laugh (it wasn’t funny). Wonder if these guys just thought that.

Not a defence at all I can’t fathom doing something like that.

I looked at the Sheffield forum when this started to break and snowball on Sat and they were as disgusted as everyone else.

They are not only cowardly but are obviously idiots as I've seen the brother's responses and they are unbelievable, talk about making a bad situation worse.

It honestly wouldn't surprise me if they are given police protection, such is the outrage. No one to blame but themselves for the consequences, which I reckon will be severe, one way or another.

What were the responses? Did he try and defend it?

I saw this on socials on Saturday, I decided not to comment until it was proven true, which it sadly has been.

Its beyond despicable and cowardly, and these two brothers are the lowest of the low and their replies to people who have messaged them are disgusting. They still haven't taken their FBs down which surprises me as they've had 1000s of comments, addresses have been revealed, the local pub team have banned him and got rid and the employer has been contacted.

They need to be dealt with severely by the law but they've also put a massive target on their backs and I can see something happening for sure.

It’s absolutely bonkers. Surely they would realise this couldn’t go well.

Mind you, remember the cardiff fan who sent the texts in about Terry Coles and Alan Davies for the Millennium big screen. He would never get away with that nowadays and similar would happen to him. He was one of the most intelligent guys I know just did it for a laugh (it wasn’t funny). Wonder if these guys just thought that.

Not a defence at all I can’t fathom doing something like that.

I looked at the Sheffield forum when this started to break and snowball on Sat and they were as disgusted as everyone else.

They are not only cowardly but are obviously idiots as I've seen the brother's responses and they are unbelievable, talk about making a bad situation worse.

It honestly wouldn't surprise me if they are given police protection, such is the outrage. No one to blame but themselves for the consequences, which I reckon will be severe, one way or another.

What were the responses? Did he try and defend it?

Worse than an attempt to defend. The brother said, and I quote, that he didn't give a f@ck and another line I won't write on here, the screenshots are all over socials. Absolute Pond Life.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Absolute pond life.

Adding to that he has a face you could not stop punching.

He's lost his job and can no longer attend matches as a result.
In addition, he has to attend court.
All this, on top of being named and becoming public enemy number one.
Justice is being served in this instance and let this be a warning to other disrespectful clowns out there!

He's lost his job and can no longer attend matches as a result.
In addition, he has to attend court.
All this, on top of being named and becoming public enemy number one.
Justice is being served in this instance and let this be a warning to other disrespectful clowns out there!

He and his brother was involved in some youth football team. They were immediately kicked out when it became apparent who they were.