FAN ARRESTED FOR ‘SWEARING AT PC’

34-year-old is handed a three-year football ban

STOKE City fan Jason Green has been banned from football matches for three years – after he swore at a police officer ahead of this month’s trouble-plagued Potteries derby.

The 34-year-old, pictured, was walking to the Checkatrade Trophy clash between Stoke City under-21s and Port Vale at Vale Park when officers asked him – and a large group of other Potters supporters – not to go into Burslem town centre.

But magistrates heard Green ignored the police and told an officer to ‘ **** off’ before he was taken to the ground and arrested. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the fans were moving towards Burslem from Middleport when the incident happened at 5.20pm on December 4. Prosecutor Ruth Bentley said: “In order to diffuse any disorder, officers asked the group not to move any further. “An officer approached this defendant who was moving in the direction of the town centre, where he had been told not to go. He was told to stay there. “He said, ‘I will go if I want’. He was warned that if he did not comply he would be arrested. He said, ‘I’m only going about my business, I just want to go to the game’. He then told the officer to ‘ **** off’. “The officer detained the defendant who tried to pull away from him. He was eventually taken to the floor where he was arrested for a public order offence.”

The cup match was marred with trouble as seats in the Vale Park away end were ripped up, the toilets destroyed and flares thrown onto the pitch. A total of 18 fans have so far been arrested.

Green, of Highfield Avenue, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Lee Yates, mitigating, said Green was not involved in the disorder which happened during and after the game.

He said: “Mr Green was arrested two hours before the match. This defendant simply indicated that he wanted to go the way he had

Detectives investigating disorder during the Potteries derby earlier this month are appealing for help to identify 15 men. A toilet block in the away end of Vale Park was damaged during Vale’s Checkatrade Trophy tie with Stoke City under-21s on December 4. A number of arrests have been made, but detectives are now appealing for help to

always planned to go. He offered no violence to the officers or anyone else.”

Magistrates fined Green identify the men pictured who may be able to help them with their enquiries. Detective Chief Inspector Rob Taylor, of Staffordshire Police, said: “We believe the 15 men will have knowledge of public order offences at the game.” Anyone who knows the men is asked to call 101. Alternatively, for guaranteed anonymity, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

£230, plus £135 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge. He was also given the threeyear football banning order

which prohibits him from attending any Stoke City or England matches over that period.