A former estate agent received a suspended sentence for a racist tweet after England’s Euro 2020 final loss, triggering job loss and public backlash.
The tweet targeted Saka, Sancho, and Rashford, all of whom missed crucial penalties in the match. England played in their first Euros final in years. Bone received a six-week suspended sentence, suspended for a year.
Bone, age 41 and living in Sale, initially denied the crime, claiming his account was hacked, a claim presented to the court. Later, he admitted his guilt and changed his plea.
The court learned Bone sent the tweet on June 11, 2021, and then followed it with another post saying, “OMG I hadn’t said anything.” People linked his account to LinkedIn.
His profile showed he worked at Savills, leading to inquiries about whether Savills employed racists. The company started a full investigation. Savills is a real estate company.
Police analyzed cell data at a cost of £2,730. This analysis proved Bone was at the location from where the posts originated, revealing his hacking claim to be false.
Savills stated they suffered brand damage and emphasized their value for diverse employees. This company statement was read in court. Bone had no prior convictions, but he had posted similar tweets before.
In 2012, he posted about using a racial slur, and in 2021, he posted about Italians, Welsh, and Scots. His lawyer, Michael Hogan, defended him, arguing that Bone faced public consequences for years. Bone had consumed alcohol when he sent the message.
His mother received nasty letters, and Bone feared going to prison. The lawyer stated the tweet was out of character and maintained that Bone is not a racist.
Bone now works as a plasterer, earning approximately £1,600 monthly. He has £200-300 left after expenses. He lost his estate agent job because of his racist tweet.
Hogan said Bone now leads a law-abiding life. The judge called Bone’s tweet racist, but acknowledged it was a single, quickly deleted tweet. Bone cried upon learning he would not go to jail.
He received a suspended sentence and must complete rehabilitation. He must also pay £1,054 in costs. Savills fired Bone, and he did not speak to reporters.
Politicians condemned the racism following the Euros final. Prince William expressed that he felt sickened by the abuse targeting England players, and demanded accountability.
