Insult was dagger to the heart

New pain for Bradley's mum

- LUCY THORNTON and DARREN LEWIS

BRADLEY Lowery's sickened mum said the lack of remorse shown by football fans who mocked her dead son was like a "dagger to the heart".

Window fitter Dale Houghton, 31, who tested positive for cocaine after his arrest and has now lost his job, yesterday admitted a public order offence and was told by a judge he could be jailed for his "utterly deplorable" behaviour.

Images of Houghton holding up a phone image of Bradley and laughing with another man at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium on Friday circulated online at the weekend.

Bradley captured the nation's heart as he fought leukaemia. He was a mascot for Sunderland and led England out at Wembley with ex-Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe, before his death, aged six, in 2017.

Last night, Jermain, 40, told the Mirror: "When Bradley passed away, Sunderland fans and Newcastle fans were hand in hand in the streets showing their support and it was so powerful. So to see two people laughing and holding his picture up - it's disgusting."