THREE-YEAR BAN FOR STOKE FAN WHO ‘LET OFF A FLARE’ AT FOREST
Supporter held up ‘bright red smoke grenade’
STOKE City season ticket holder Sebastian Hargreaves has been banned from grounds for three years after letting off a flare at Nottingham Forest.
The 26-year-old loss adjuster held up a bright red ‘smoke grenade,’ five minutes before kick off in February this year.
He was tracked by CCTV and told police that he had set off the flare before admitting he had another one and saying: “Let me hand this in as well, mate.”
Nottingham Magistrates Court heard that prior to kick off, Stoke fans were ‘jumping up and down and throwing beer around’ when red smoke was spotted in the lower tier of the Bridgford Stand at the Forest ground.
Harvey Gahir, prosecuting for Nottinghamshire Police, said: “He had in his possession a smoke grenade, also known as a pyrotechnic”.
After pleading guilty to possessing a smoke flare during the period of a designated sporting event, Hargreaves, 26, of Pacific Road, Trentham, Stoke-on-trent, gave evidence in the hope a football banning order would not be imposed.
Working full-time as a claims coordinator for a loss adjustment firm in Stoke, he told how he gained a business management degree from Staffordshire University.
His mum died of breast cancer in 2020 when she was 58 years old.
Hargreaves, who has supported Stoke City for more than a decade, told magistrates: “I can assure you, she would be disappointed in my actions”.
The court heard he bought two cold non-toxic fully biodegradable smoke flares online but was not aware it was a criminal offence to take them to a football ground.
He intended to, ‘add to the atmosphere prior to kick-off’ of a game which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Since being charged, Hargreaves has been allowed to attend Stoke City matches.
“It was a moment of stupidity,” he added. “I’m very much remorseful”. His lawyer, Peter Howland, said: “It is an isolated, stupid incident. It is a very onerous order.
“Stoke City have 46 games in a season, times three. That’s 130-odd games he will be punished, not allowed to go.
”There is no risk of this man causing violence or disorder at a football ground”.
But presiding magistrate Cheryl Abraham imposed the three-year banning order keeping Hargreaves away from matches in England and Wales for three years. She told him the offence was aggravated by the potential disturbance and panic by the crowd, and further aggravated by him having multiple flares.
A fine of £300 was also imposed, a £34 victim surcharge and a costs order for £85.