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West Bromwich Albion fan jailed for eight weeks for racially abusing footballer
A West Bromwich Albion fan found guilty of racially abusing one of his own team’s players on Facebook has been jailed for eight weeks.
Simon Silwood, 50, posted a message about Romaine Sawyers following his team’s 5-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Hawthorns on January 26.
The 50-year-old denied the offence, telling police his message on the group was “stupid, not racial” and claimed autocorrect had changed what he wrote.
That was rejected in court and on 9 September Silwood was found guilty of sending a racial slur under the Malicious Communications Act.
Following his conviction, West Brom issued Silwood a lifetime ban.
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