Houghton was seen holding up a picture of Bradley Lowery during a match against Sunderland, which the young boy had supported. He admitted a public order offense and was banned from attending football matches for five years.

Houghton's actions were widely condemned as disgraceful, and he was ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work as part of his sentence. The judge described his behavior as "reckless and foolish" and noted that it had caused additional trauma to Bradley Lowery's grieving family.

Bradley Lowery had been a mascot for Sunderland Football Club and formed a close bond with striker Jermain Defoe. Houghton expressed deep remorse for his actions in court and faced personal consequences, including the loss of his job as a window fitter.

Sheffield Wednesday Football Club also denounced Houghton's actions, stating that they would not tolerate such behavior at their stadium. Despite the incident, Sheffield Wednesday supporters raised nearly £30,000 for the Bradley Lowery Foundation, highlighting the community values of the club.