A 60-year-old man who posted racist messages about England defender Jess Carter online has received a suspended jail sentence.
Nigel Dewale, of Great Harwood, Lancashire, sent two posts during Euro 2025 last summer from his TikTok account under the username Bogeyman.
Dewale was "in drink" at home when he responded to a news article about police investigating online racial abuse earlier received by Carter following England's matches against France and Sweden at the tournament.
- England's Jess Carter: 'I didn't want to leave hotel' amid Euros abuse
The racist messages were later traced to Dewale, who was arrested and charged.
On Wednesday, he was sentenced at Blackburn Magistrates' Court to six weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months.
He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to sending a grossly offensive message via a public communications network.
Carter, 28, who plays for NWSL team Gotham FC, was part of the Lionesses squad that went on to successfully defend their title at the tournament in Switzerland.
Prosecutor Graeme Tindall said the initial online racist abuse led to Carter deciding to no longer look at her various social media accounts, which instead were monitored by her sister.
Carter had previously not experienced such abuse and the comments "affected her confidence" and left her "anxious and genuinely scared", he said.
Mr Tindall said: "She did not want to leave her hotel. She was scared she would come face to face with someone who made the comments."
The former Birmingham and Chelsea defender reported the matter to the Football Association and police were called in to investigate.
Later in July a TikTok user posted a message about the racism to which Carter had been subjected, which prompted the response from Dewale.
Bradley Hayes, defending, told the court: "If there was ever a decision he made that he wishes he could take back, then it is this decision.
"It has filled him with a sense of shame. He has let himself down, his family and his community.
"He has instructed me to make a wholehearted apology to Ms Carter, her family and the wider women's football community for his actions which he accepts are disgraceful and which he regrets deeply.
"It has been a salutary lesson for him to fully understand the consequences of his actions."
Dewale was primary carer for his 20-year-old daughter who suffers from epilepsy, he said, and that she would be "very much disadvantaged" by an immediate custodial sentence.
District Judge Tony Watkin told Dewale he had "come very close indeed" to sending him to jail but took into account the impact it would have on his daughter.
He also considered the defendant had a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation".
He told Dewale: "You targeted her for no other reason than she was a prominent, female footballer. It caused substantial distress and fear to your victim.
"There is a view held by some that offences of this nature are somehow less serious because they are committed behind a screen. The very opposite is true.
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"Those messages have real-world consequences. In this instance they caused someone who had risen to prominence through her talent and ability to have to change her behaviours.
"Your conviction and sentence should serve as a warning that people who send such messages are not anonymous. The police can and will find those responsible."
Dewale, of Prospect Street, received a four-year football banning order, although the court was told he had not attended matches for "many years."
He must also abide by a three-month curfew, complete a community order of 10 rehabilitation days and pay £85 court costs and a £145 victim discharge.
Dewale was given a concurrent jail sentence of four weeks, also suspended for 12 months, after he pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon, an extendable baton, in a private place.
After sentencing, John Moran for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "When England's women were successfully winning a second straight Euros victory, Dewale chose racism over patriotism.
"This case should be a stark reminder to so-called keyboard warriors. Online actions have consequences.
"This type of social media offending will not be tolerated. Those who peddle hate, on or off the pitch, will be brought to justice."
Information from PA contributed to this report.