Three-year ban for football fan

WENDY BARLOW

ATEENAGE Burnley fan has received a threeyear football banning order after joining in a brawl with rival supporters.

Season ticket holder Connor Tattersall, 19, did not start the trouble, outside Burnley FC’s ground Turf Moor, but “ran over to where the action was happening,” the town’s magistrates were told.

The court was told the disorder, on November 5 when the Clarets were paying Crystal Palace, involved about 25 people and the defendant was said to be on the periphery of the fighting. CCTV footage of the clash was shown at the hearing.

Tattersall, an apprentice, was already on a behaviour order after he was seen throwing a bottle at a match last year. It didn’t hit anyone.

The defendant, of Pinewood Drive, Accrington, admitted affray.

He was fined £235, with a £30 victim surcharge and £85 costs. He had no previous convictions.

Prosecutor Alex Mann told the court no weapons were used and it was not a particularly long incident.

She said the defendant was “on the periphery of the fighting,” with away fans who had got off a coach outside the ground.

Mrs Mann continued: “He threw a few punches. He got a few back.”

Mr Daniel Frazer, defending, said Tattersall had owned up to what he had done.

The solicitor continued: “Others have been arrested.

“He identified himself to the police. He fully accepts what he has done is unacceptable.”

Mr Frazer said Tattersall was an apprentice, in full-time work.

The solicitor went on: “Unfortunately, he has made some very poor choices in the company he keeps.”

The solicitor said the bottle incident occurred after a late equaliser when the defendant had it in his hand. He added: “His emotions got the better of him and he threw the bottle in the air.”

Sentencing, the bench told Tattersall: “You didn’t start the trouble. You ran towards it.

“It could have escalated. You were ready to co-operate with the police and have shown some remorse.”

The chairman said it was a ‘catastrophically bad idea,’ for Tattersall to have put everything he had at risk by involvement in the incident.

He added: “It was a two-minute act of stupidity.”