Football fan facing banning order after crowd trouble
A Sunderland season ticket holder is facing a potential football banning order after being caught up in crowd trouble at the Tees Wear derby in January
21 year old Jack James Smith from Hartlepool was arrested outside the Riverside Stadium on January 6th after Sunderland had crashed out the FA cup to Boro after losing 2-0
Smith had allegedly been shouting at Boro fans outside the ground as he left the Riverside calling them 'paedos'
The 21 year old who was previously banned from attending matches in 2015 denies using threatening and abusive words after the game.
Prosecutors argued Smith had also been causing trouble during the cup match.
PC Matthew Holman was on duty that day and gave his version of events to the court.
“He then moved to the edge of the Sunderland fans’ group, closer to me and the Middlesbrough fans.
“I told him to ‘wind his neck in’, which I thought was clear enough.
“He continued to shout and swear, telling me he could say what he effin’ well wanted to. It became obvious he wasn’t heeding warnings, so I arrested and cautioned him.”
However Smith denies this claiming he was not chanting.
Smith, 21, of Fernville Close, Hartlepool, was convicted of using threatening behavior.
He was ordered to pay £450 in fines and costs. A hearing on April 17 will determine if he is to be given another banning order.
Credit to The Sun for imagery used in this article.