Trio fined over verbal abuse of England coach

COURT: Scotland rugby fans launched foul-mouthed tirade at Eddie Jones

Three men have been fined after they hurled foul-mouthed abuse at England head rugby coach Eddie Jones following Scotland’s Calcutta Cup triumph.

Footage released online showed the group approaching the 58-year-old for a photograph as he left Manchester Oxford Road rail station to catch a waiting car before the atmosphere soured.

One of the Scotland supporters shouted: “What about last night, you baldy c***” and Mr Jones was repeatedly called a “f ****** baldy c***” as he was ushered into the vehicle by his driver on February 25.

Yesterday Richie Cleeton, 22, Connor Inglis, 25, and Brett Grant, 23, from Edinburgh, all pled guilty to a public order offence of using threatening abusive words and behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Sentencing the trio at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, chairman of the bench Joe Bangudu said: “This was a short-lived but disgraceful incident. No one should ever have to put up with such language and behaviour.

“We have not seen any sort of remorse by you. That is a concern.”

Cleeton, of Carrick Knowe Avenue, was fined £120, Inglis, of Cornhill Terrace, received a fine of £105 and Grant, of Drum Crescent, was given a financial penalty of £140. All three were also ordered to pay court costs of £115 each.

A fourth defendant, Dale Cleeton, 25, also of Carrick Knowe Avenue, pled not guilty to the same offence and will go on trial on August 10.

Picture: PA. Eddie Jones was described as “quite shaken” at the time of the incident.