Romaine Sawyers’ racist abuser has been sentenced to eight weeks in prison, as reported by Steve Madeley of The Athletic.
Romaine Sawyers: “This is an incident that has affected me deeply, but I would like to encourage fellow players to report all racial abuse to the police."
Valerien Ismael: "Racism won’t stop tomorrow. But least now everyone is aware." #WBA @TheAthleticUKhttps://t.co/g1CXZIQq7j
— Steve Madeley (@SteveMadeley78) September 30, 2021
Romaine Sawyers’ Racist Abuser Sentenced to Eight Weeks In Prison
West Bromwich Albion Supporter Jailed
Via Facebook, Simon Silwood, aged 5o, from Kingswinford in the West Midlands sent Sawyers malicious and racist messages.
During the trial at Birmingham magistrates court, Silwood claimed that he had sent the Facebook post, but it was an error as a result of the auto correct function and he had not intended to cause harm or offence in his communication with the West Brom midfielder.
Silwood was sentenced to eight weeks in prison as well as being fined £500 in costs alongside a further £500 to be paid to Sawyers in compensation.
Sentence was passed by District Judge Briony Clarke who The Athletic report stated to Mr Silwood: “This is, Mr Silwood, a serious offence. There is no place for racism or racist abuse online. This clearly, in my view, crosses the custody threshold. I assess the remorse you have for your actions as very minimal indeed.”
Simon Browney, who was in court for the prosecution, stated that the impact of the incident had severely affected Sawyers who is now on loan at Stoke City and read out a statement from the player who did not appear in court: “Daily I am constantly thinking about the incident. Every time I play football I am now thinking about comments that could be made about me online about the colour of my skin. He has shown a complete lack of respect for me, my family and West Bromwich Albion. It is now 2021. Behaviour like this is completely unacceptable.”
Defence solicitor Rupert Jones told the court that the incident was ”out of character” for Silwood and that the defendant had written to Sawyers to offer his apology.
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