Football ban man who was found with cannabis plants is tagged

A Chapelhall man who failed to realise his football banning order extended to making the police aware of his whereabouts during an international fixture has been tagged for his oversight.

John Clark received his ban at Glasgow Sheriff Court last year after pleading guilty to“football offences” following the Rangers v Hibernian 2016 Scottish Cup final.

CCTV footage had shown Rangers fan Clark entering the field of play at the end of the game to attend to a fellow fan who had been knocked to the ground.

While on the Hampden Park pitch, Clark was hit on the head by a beach ball which led to him getting involved in disorder.

Clark, of Argus Avenue, defied his order by failing to sign in at Coatbridge police office on the day of the Slovenia v Scotland World Cup qualifier on October 8 last year.

The 43-year-old admitted the breach and was remanded in custody ahead of the preparation of reports looking into his background.

Clark resurfaced at Airdrie Sheriff Court last week, when the procurator fiscal explained:“He was sent instructions from the football banning order authorities making him aware of his requirement to sign in at the police station on the morning of that particular game.

“Officers checked the folder at Coatbridge police office and it was noted he had failed to sign on.

“He was then contacted by police and gave no reason for his failure to attend.”

In mitigation, defence solicitor Mark Lutton responded:“He was under the impression the ban applied to Celtic and Rangers games, not when Scotland were playing.

“He accepts he made an error and tendered a plea of guilty. He has no other matters outstanding.

“My client is at something of a crossroads and the report suggests that there is an alternative to custody here.

“It is not lost on Mr Clark that Your Lordship will consider custody; I would invite Your Lordship to step back from this.”

A visibly unimpressed Sheriff Derek O’Carroll warned Clark he was on the cusp of being sent to prison.

He said:“I take this particular offence seriously and ordinarily you would go to jail.

“But I won’t do that this time; instead I will impose a restriction of liberty order for a period of three months.

“This is discounted from five months due to your plea and will restrict you to your home between the hours of 7pm and 7am.”

Clark will also be under supervision for the next year after being caught with 12 cannabis plants in Park Road and Main Street in Caldercruix on April 5 last year.

The procurator fiscal added:“He was found in possession of the plants within the close of a block of flats; they were mature plants.

“He was then cautioned and charged.”

Sheriff O’Carroll told Clark:“On the cannabis charge, I will take into account that you’ve already been remanded in custody and impose a community payback order with supervision for a period of 12 months.”