Jermain Defoe pays tribute to Bradley Lowery after football fan admits to mocking his death

Former England striker Jermain Defoe has expressed his disgust and sadness after a football fan pleaded guilty to mocking the death of his “best friend forever” Bradley Lowery, who died of cancer in 2017 at the age of six. Dale Houghton, 31, a Sheffield Wednesday fan, was high on cocaine when he held up a picture of Bradley, a Sunderland mascot, to taunt the opposition fans at Hillsborough Stadium on Friday. He was arrested on Saturday and appeared before Sheffield magistrates court on Monday, where he admitted to a public order offence and faces a possible jail sentence and a lifetime ban from his club. Defoe, who formed a close bond with Bradley after meeting him in September 2016, said he was appalled by Houghton’s “outrageous and utterly deplorable” behaviour. He said he thinks about Bradley every day and that his love was genuine. In an emotional tribute posted on his social media accounts, Defoe wrote: “My little angel, I can’t believe it’s been four years since you left us. You are