Fan abuses mother of Sunderland striker Darren Bent

Nov 30 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A POLICE investigation has been launched after top striker Darren Bent accused a Sunderland fan of racially abusing his mother.

The star was furious after his mother, Shirley, said she was the subject of an attack before Sunderland’s 1-0 defeat at Wigan on Saturday.

England international Bent told of the tirade on social blog site Twitter, and warned: “The offender needs to hope I don’t find out his name.”

After discovering his mother had been allegedly targeted in a pub by a Sunderland fan, angry Bent went straight on to his blog site. He wrote: “So, we get beat by Wigan and to make matters worse my mum gets racially abused by a Sunderland fan. I won’t stand for that. It’s an absolute disgrace.”

The abuse happened in a busy pub where scores of Sunderland fans had congregated after the match.

It is alleged the fan had been trying to get served at the bar. When he didn’t get attention quick enough, it is claimed he shouted at a lone woman serving: “Don’t treat me like I’m black.”

Mrs Bent was standing close by and was said to have berated the fan, telling him that she was Darren’s mother and not to abuse people like that.

An eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said: “She gave back as good as she got and then stewards and police were called.

“She was really upset and let him know what she thought, telling him he was an absolute disgrace and should be ashamed of himself.

“The guy did a runner and the man who had been with him refused to reveal his name until the police said they would arrest him instead.”