Binos supporter left bruised after assault
Sheriff warns Stranraer fan he could face match ban
A Binos supporter was left with bruises and swelling after being punched on the head by a Stranraer fan during March’s Scottish League match at Forthbank.
Stranraer fan Andrew Kane had carried out the assault on the dad who had been making his way back to the car park with his sons on Saturday, March 26 this year.
Kane, aged 21, was made subject to a bail condition forbidding him from attending senior Scottish football matches at Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
He had admitted a charge of assaulting the man to his injury by punching him on the head and attempting to punch him on the head.
Fiscal depute Karen Chambers told Stirling Sheriff Court the complainer had been returning to his car at 5pm with his sons when he was approached by four Stranraer fans including Kane. The match was ongoing.
One of Kane’s companions asked the complainer why they had been making gestures towards them inside the stadium.
The complainer however denied the accusation and stated it must have been another group of fans.
At that point Kane stepped forward and punched the complainer on the left cheek, said Ms Chambers.
The Binos fan attempted to defend himself and pushed the accused away.
Kane, however, tried to punch him again, but this time it didn’t connect. The complainer pushed Kane away and other fans intervened to split the group up.
The fiscal depute said the complainer had slight swelling and bruising to his left cheek due to the first punch.
Kane was traced after the complainer contacted police who sent photographs of him to colleagues in Stranraer.
Ms Chambers asked Sheriff Derek Hamilton to consider a Football Banning Order.
Sheriff Hamilton deferred sentence on Kane, of East Kilbride, for a criminal justice social work report and restriction of liberty order assessment. He was also granted bail with the condition that he does not attend at any senior football ground in Scotland.
Sheriff Hamilton further advised Kane, who was not represented by a lawyer, to seek legal advice before he appeared for sentence next month as he would give consideration to a Football Banning Order.