Man charged after football fans allegedly ‘mock’ death of young Sunderland mascot Bradley Lowery

Pictures showed two men apparently laughing at a photo of Bradley Lowery who died of cancer aged six in 2017

Bradley Lowery died in 2017 (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Archive)

A man charged by police after football fans allegedly mocked the death of mascot Bradley Lowery will appear in court.

Dale Houghton, 31, from Rotherham, was arrested on Saturday after pictures showed two men laughing at a photo of Bradley during a match between Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland - Lowery’s favourite team - on Friday.

The Sunderland fan captured the nation’s heart during his battle with neuroblastoma before he died from the illness aged six 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.

Houghton has been charged with a public order offence and is due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning.

Police said a second man arrested on Saturday had been released on bail pending further inquiries.