Top student banned for hurling flare
DISABLED WOMAN ENGULFED IN SMOKE AFTER LEICESTER FAN HURLED
OBJECT DURING OLD TRAFFORD MATCH
A MASTER’S student who threw a flare during a Manchester United match, leaving a disabled woman in the crowd needing urgent first aid, has been banned from all football grounds for three years.
Amar Raithatha, 26, from Leicester, bought three flares from Amazon and travelled up to Manchester for Leicester City’s game against United in April.
He hid one of them and got into the stadium, later throwing it during the match.
A court heard the blue smoke flare was launched towards a lower tier area of the ground after Leicester scored.
It landed near to the feet of a 69-yearold woman sitting in a section for supporters with disabilities.
She was engulfed in blue smoke, the court heard, which caused her eyes to sting, and needed first aid attention. Fortunately she suffered no serious injuries.
Raithatha, of Whetstone, Leicester, pleaded guilty to common assault, possessing a flare at a sporting event and throwing a missile.
At Tameside magistrates court on Monday, he was sentenced to a 12-month community order consisting of 80 hours of unpaid work.
Raithatha was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation and £85 costs. The three-year football banning order means he must not go within a mile of a football stadium, other than for legitimate reasons, the Crown Prosecution Service said after the case.
Adrian Hollamby, senior crown prosecutor, said after the sentencing hearing: “His reckless actions caused a fan to suffer smoke inhalation.
“The CPS is dedicated to bringing those who commit such offences to justice.”
The victim, who was also a Leicester City supporter, noticed something had landed in front of her so bent down to see what it was.
She then ‘quickly noticed’ blue smoke emitting from the flare and was ‘engulfed’ in the smoke which caused pain in her eyes. Raithatha was said to have a Master’s degree in pharmacy and was training to be a pharmacis.
Mitigating, Laura Baumanis said her client made full and frank admissions following his arrest. “He is extremely sorry for the victim and has regret and remorse for what happened,” she said.
“What happened should have never taken place and the actions could have had serious consequences.”