Three-year ban for footie thug who threw seat
A NEWCASTLE United fan has been banned from all matches for three years after leaving a fellow supporter with a head injury when he threw a seat.
Scott Brown ripped out a seat and tried to throw it at rival supporter during a game but, instead, hit a woman who was also in the away stand.
The 27-year-old has now been handed a banning order and told to pay almost £1,000 for compensation, court costs and possession of cocaine.
Brown had travelled to watch Newcastle United take on West Ham United at the London Stadium in the Premier League clash earlier this month.
He was sat in the away end to cheer on his team and a court heard how the had been drinking heavily in the buildup to the match.
Newcastle United raced into an early two-goal lead and amid the celebrations Brown ripped off his seat and hurled it towards the West Ham fans.
However, he failed to reach the rival supporters and instead struck a 26-year-old woman who was also sat in the away end, leaving her with a cut to the head.
Brown, of Oakfield Park, Prudhoe, Northumberland, was arrested at the stadium by the Metropolitan Police before being charged with throwing a missile, common assault and possession of a Class A drug.
Now he has been handed a threeyear football banning order and a fourmonth suspended sentence at Thames Magistrates’ Court, in London.
Chief Superintendent Sarah Pitt, who oversees football policing in Northumbria
Police, said the sentence should send a strong message to any fans who don’t control their emotions.
She said: “The North East is home to some of the most passionate football supporters in the entire country and thousands of people travel to watch them in action every single week.
“They very rarely get involved in any disorder and we are proud to be able to travel with supporters of both Newcastle and Sunderland to away matches across the country.
“We know football can stir emotions and many of our officers are fans as well so we understand that things can boil over.
“However, there is absolutely no excuse for behaviour like that demonstrated by Scott Brown at the West Ham game and I welcome this sentence.
“His reckless and stupid actions have led to a fellow Newcastle United fan being injured and he is lucky that her injuries weren’t more serious.”
As well as the banning order and suspended sentence, Brown was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
His £1,000 bill included £850 compensation, £85 in court costs, a £122 victim surcharge and a £75 fine for possession of cocaine.
UNITED FAN HIT IN HEAD DURING GAME AGAINST WEST HAM