Drunk fan avoids match ban order

COURT TOLD OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR

A DRUNK Toon supporter has narrowly avoided a football banning order after he turned aggressive as he tried to get to the away fans at St James’ Park.

Colin Watson shouted at stewards: “My father will have vengeance,” and violently gestured at them when he was stopped from trying to cross the segregation line between the two sets of supporters in the stadium.

A court was told Newcastle United were playing Leicester City at the time, a match they went on to lose 2-3, on the afternoon of Saturday, December 9 last year.

A police officer at St James’ Park had his attention drawn to Watson on level 7 of f th the stadium, t di who h h had d b become aggressive with stewards and was shouting and swearing.

Prosecutors said the 42-year-old, who has been a season ticket holder for 30 years, was drunk and had been trying to cross the segregation to get to the Leicester fans when he started being abusive.

As the police officer approached, he saw Watson “gesturing violently” at the stewards and bellowing “My father will have vengeance”, North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.

He was arrested and subsequently fined after he pleaded guilty to being drunk in a sports ground.

Keith Laidlaw, prosecuting, said the police officer was on level 7 of St James’ Park at around 5.30pm when he saw a male shouting at stewards.

“The defendant was agitated and gesturing t i violently,” i l tl ” M Mr L Laidlaw idl t told ld the court. “He was shouting and swearing. The officer approached him to calm the situation down and he could see the defendant’s eyes were glazed and he was showing signs of being drunk.

“The defendant was argumentative, claiming he was inspecting the stewards. The stewards told the officer that Watson had tried to break the segregation between the Leicester and Newcastle fans.

“The defendant continued to be aggressive and was pointing towards the stewards while refusing to show his ticket.”

The court heard the officer arrested Watson, formerly of Glynfellis Court, Leam Lane Estate, but now of Cotgarth, Felling, both in Gateshead, due to his behaviour. Mr Laidlaw added: Colin Watson leaves North Tyneside Magistrates Court “The defendant was seemingly trying to break the segregation lines to get to the Leicester fans.”

The prosecutor also made an application for a football banning order to be issued against Watson but his solicitor, Mark Humble, successfully argued against it.

Watson was fined £245 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Sentencing, District Judge Kate Meek said: “Having heard from your representative, I’m not going to issue a football banning order because you have been going to matches for 30 years without any trouble.”