THREE-YEAR BAN FOR FOOTBALL FAN WHO SET OFF SMOKE BOMB
Supporter hit with court bill of £415
A 24-YEAR-OLD man has been banned from attending football matches for three years after setting off a smoke bomb at a Stoke City away game.
Potters fan Benjamin Leighton was arrested at Ashton Gate stadium during Stoke’s fixture at Bristol City on October 27.
Leighton was convicted of possession of a smoke bomb at Bristol Magistrates’ Court.
He was also fined £300 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
The banning order means he cannot attend any Premier League or lower league games, or any England internationals for three years.
Leighton, from Farrier Gardens in Eccleshall, must also surrender his passport when England are playing abroad to prevent him travelling to the match.
PC Ben Greensides, of Staffordshire Police’s football unit, said: “Sadly the use of pyrotechnics at football games is a growing trend but hopefully this conviction will go some way to deterring others. Setting off items like smoke bombs at games can be dangerous to players, officials and fans and causes fear and distress to those in the near vicinity.
“Because of the disruption, often games must be paused while the area is made safe, which is unfair on thousands of paying fans who want to enjoy a game of football.
“Staffordshire Police does not tolerate anti-social behaviour at football matches and works closely with clubs to identify those looking to cause trouble so that we can prevent criminal actions.”