Rangers fan spared jail for throwing bottle

A RANGERS fan who launched a glass bottle from the crowd that narrowly missed a police officer at the Europa League match against Villarreal last year has been spared jail.

Nicholas Walker, 20, admitted assaulting police officer Gary Montgomerie at the match on November 29, 2018 at Ibrox Stadium, that ended goal-less.

He was given a community payback order at Glasgow Sheriff Court with the condition he must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within three months.

The court heard that while police were removing fellow-fan Paul Cairney from the pitch, items were thrown by supporters at the game.

Walker, from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire – represented by Amy Hunter – was spotted on CCTV throwing the bottle.

He was stopped by police as he was leaving the stadium and admitted “That was stupid”.

The court heard he apologised for his actions.

Cairney, 26, also pleaded guilty at the when he appeared from custody after the game.

He admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner at Ibrox Stadium on November 29, leaving his seat in the stand entering the pitch and breaching the peace.

Cairney, from Livingston, West Lothian, will be sentenced later this month. NEW research has revealed that being closer to nature makes you 67 per cent happier, but one in six kids in Scotland have not seen a single bug in six months.

The study marks the launch of Big bugs on tour at intu Braehead, which brings adults and children face-toface with 12 giant British bugs in an effort to reconnect people with nature and make them happier.

The initiative by intu is backed by naturalist Chris Packham and features 12 supersized, indigenous bugs including the honeybee, ladybird, hornet, swallowtail butterfly and the nut weevil.

It will be on display until the end of the month, before going on tour across other intu shopping centres around the UK.