Post by MST on Feb 9, 2015 15:21:37 GMT
Sheffield Wednesday fan banned from three matches for throwing tangerine
Hammersmith Magistrates' Court is told Mark Ablett, 29, hurled the fruit into the home crowd at Fulham's Craven Cottage game
A Sheffield Wednesday fan who threw a tangerine at Fulham supporters during his team's 4-0 thrashing has been banned from attending games for three years.
Mark Ablett, 29, hurled the fruit into the home crowd during the fixture on December 20 last year and was removed from Craven Cottage by stewards.
Ablett, who was caught throwing the "missile" on CCTV, said after he was pulled from the stands: "I may have been stupid and thrown a tangerine or whatever."
A judge handed the financial officer a three year football banning order and ordered him to pay £360 after he admitted throwing a missile under the Football Offences Act.
Prosecutor Malachy Packenham said Ablett could not give a proper reason for throwing the citrus into the 4,689 capacity Riverside Stand.
Mr Packenham told Hammersmith Magistrates' Court: "It probably does not matter but it's very difficult to get tangerines at this time of year, so this was possibly an orange.
"The home team Fulham were playing Sheffield Wednesday at Craven Cottage when Ablett was seen to throw this item at the Fulham fans.
"He was identified by stewards and ejected from the stadium for the offence, which was captured on CCTV.
"Fulham say it clearly shows he threw the fruit at their fans and when ejected by security staff said: 'I may have been stupid and thrown a tangerine or whatever.
"Otherwise, he could not give reasons for what he did."
Jyothi Somavarapu, defending, called for Ablett - who wore a black jumper, white shirt and grey tie in the dock - to be given a conditional discharge instead of an "unreasonable" football banning order.
He earns £16,000 working for a local government funded charitable organisation which trains school leavers in "employability skills" and has no previous convictions.
Ms Somavarapu said: "My client's explanation was it was silly behaviour and he threw a tangerine, which he said landed on the pitch.
"His only explanation is that the game was not going that well and that's the only reason he can think of.
"He says it was a silly thing to do and he would not do again - otherwise he is a sensible person and is remorseful for what he did.
"He is somebody who actually gives a lot to the community in his organisation's projects and all he needs is a warning to him not to get into trouble again."
But Deputy District Judge Kate Tulk said she had no other option but to ban Ablett from matches nationwide and abroad for three years.
Judge Tulk told Ablett: "You said this was a silly thing but I do not take that view - it had incredibly serious consequences.
"If that fruit had landed amongst opposing fans it had potential for them to respond badly and react and a whole load of consequences could have occurred.
"The throwing of a missile is a very serious offence and it gets more serious if it's a missile that would cause harm or injury."
Ablett must report to a police station to learn the requirements of his order to ensure he does not attend football matches and any measures to prevent him travelling abroad to do so.
He was also ordered to pay £360, made up of a £250 fine, £85 prosecution costs and a £25 victim surcharge.