A SUNDERLAND fan was today banned from attending games for three years after he admitted racially abusing the mother of Black Cats' striker Darren Bent.

Season ticket holder John Davison, 26, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, shouted an offensive word as Shirley Bent walked past him on the way to watch her son play away at Wigan Athletic.

She turned round to see a group of men laughing and giving each other ''high fives'' in the stadium car park, Wigan Magistrates' Court was told.

They returned to a bar where they had been drinking but she was so upset she decided to confront them and pointed the men out to security officials.

Police brought Davison to her where she told him she only wanted an apology.

He said sorry and added that the Sunderland and England forward was one of his favourite players and he would get a tattoo of him on his arm.

Mrs Bent changed her mind on not taking further action against him when she told her son about the incident after his team's 1-0 defeat on November 28 last year.

It is understood that shortly after the game Bent wrote on his Twitter page: ''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.''

Davison handed himself into police after he returned home following the match to learn of media reports of the incident.

He went on to send a bunch of flowers and a letter of apology to Mrs Bent.

Davison, of Avondale Terrace, pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour in a racially aggravated manner.

He was given a three-year ban order from attending football matches, fined £170 and ordered to pay Mrs Bent £50 compensation for any distress caused to her.

Katie McFarlane, prosecuting, said Mrs Bent arrived at the car park for away supporters at 2pm and was walking past the DW Stadium's Gym and Sports Bar when the incident took place.

She said: ''She says there were four or five men who were kicking a plastic bottle. She described their behaviour as boisterous.

''She then heard a male voice shout the word. She saw the group laughing and two of them were slapping their hands in a high-five gesture.

''It gave her the impression they were pleased at what happened.''

Mrs Bent watched the group return to the bar and told her partner about what had happened.

''She was upset and angry and wanted to confront them. She said she had never experienced anything like it,'' she said.

Miss McFarlane said officers picked out Sunderland season ticket holder Davison who was said to be ''profusely apologetic'' and explained he had not eaten much before drinking.

''He started telling her that her son was one of his favourite players and he was going to have a tattoo of him on his arm,'' the prosecutor said. ''Mrs Bent said he was drunk.''

Both parties went into the stadium without incident as they watched the game just 10 rows apart.

Miss McFarlane said: ''Mrs Bent told her son about the incident after the match and then reported it to Sunderland's press office.

''Since the incident she has remained upset.''

Colin Rawson, defending Davison, said the matter was ''regrettable'' for both Mrs Bent and his client.

He told magistrates: ''I hope you appreciate he has done all he can since he said that single word to rectify the situation.''

Davison had been a ''loyal supporter'' of Sunderland for 20 years and ''loved'' the club.

''He travelled on a coach with the club where alcohol was not allowed but then after arriving at the ground he drank four pints within a hour,'' Mr Rawson explained.

''He was having banter with the lads when a song was sang which referred to the word. He accepts he said that word. It was not aimed at any individual but agrees this lady was walking past as he did so.

''It was one specific word used, not a nice word to use. It was one used that he deeply, deeply regrets.

''This gentlemen is deeply upset and is genuinely remorseful for his actions and showed that on the day by apologising to Mrs Bent.''

He said the football club had already revoked his season ticket for the year.

''His greatest punishment could be not to support his team for many, many years and to have had the matter publicised in detail,'' Mr Rawson said.

Chair of the bench Krystyna Mountain said: ''This was a serious offence and it is a shame the court has had to point it out to you today, and you have paid severely for it.''

Davison was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £15 victim impact surcharge.