Bradley Lowery’s mum speaks out as football yob Dale Houghton admits mocking her son’s death at Sunderland game
BRADLEY Lowery’s mum has spoken out after a shameless footie yob admitted to mocking her son’s tragic death.
Heartbroken mother Gemma said the sickening behaviour of Dale Houghton was like a “dagger to the heart”.
Dale, 31, was snapped using a picture of the youngster to mock Sunderland fans during Friday’s game against Sheffield Wednesday.
The thug today admitted causing harassment, alarm and distress.
And Gemma slammed the thug for showing no “remorse” after his shameful act.
Speaking to The Mirror the 40-year-old said: “To be honest when I first saw it I was upset and a little bit angry, using my child in a negative light.
“However as the day went on and I saw the impact and the backlash the men got.
“I’m the sort of person who tries to see the good in people, so I started trying to justify their actions, they’ve just been beaten 3-0.
“But then I got sent some messages from a group chat they’d been in which you can clearly see there was no remorse.
She continued: “They said that Bradley shouldn’t have got special treatment and that’s when it really, really hit us.
“It was like a dagger to my heart and I got really really upset about that. What they did was intentional and they had no remorse for doing it.
“That’s when I thought ‘actually you are not very nice people and you deserve to be punished’.”
Houghton now faces a maximum of six months in prison for the Public Order offence when he sentenced on November 17.
And he will be made to attend a drug intervention programme after testing positive for cocaine, the court heard.
Football fans were left horrified after the pictures from the game were circulated on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday.
Prosecutor Jade Short said Houghton’s antics caused a “huge public revulsion”.
She also told the court the shamed football fan found it “enjoyable banter” as he was smiling throughout.
Sunderland fan Bradley captured the nation’s heart during his battle with neuroblastoma, but succumbed to the illness in 2017.
He was a mascot for his beloved club and, in the months before his death, led England out at Wembley alongside former Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe.
Ex-prem star Defoe also blasted the heartless fan for his disgraceful act on Friday.
The former Sunderland striker struck up a close friendship with Bradley, six, before his death from cancer in 2017.
He told MailOnline: “My thoughts at this time go out to Gemma and Carl [Bradley’s parents], who shouldn’t have to deal with incidents like this, but rather be praised for the amazing work they are doing with the Bradley Lowery Foundation in their son’s memory.
“I urge the public to stand behind the family and continue support the Foundation and its projects.
“Bradley was one of the most inspirational children this world has ever seen, and he will never stop inspiring us.
“We love and miss you Brad. Love, your best friend forever.”