Teenager who threw Jelly Baby at Shrewsbury Town keeper Dean Henderson escapes football ban

Blackburn magistrates heard Shrewsbury keeper Dean Henderson had been banned for three matches by the Football Association after he threw two objects back into the crowd during a game against Blackburn Rovers after he had been taunted by the home fans.

But the 17-year-old boy was not banned after the magistrates said they did not think he had incited violence or disorder.

The teenager pleaded guilty to throwing a missile onto the playing area at Ewood Park and, in another incident, of going onto the Gigg Lane playing area when Rovers played Bury on November 18.

He was made subject to a referral order for six months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.

Adrian Hollanby, prosecuting, said the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was caught on CCTV throwing an object in the direction of the goalkeeper.

He later told police the goalkeeper had thrown his bottle down when Rovers scored their opening goal. There was ongoing banter between the crowd and the player, and after the third goal items were thrown onto the pitch.

“The goalkeeper threw something back and at that point he (the teenager) admitted going into his pocket for something to throw,” said Mr Hollanby.

“The only thing he had was a Jelly Baby and he thought throwing that would wind him up. He said he had no intention of hurting the goalkeeper.”

The incident at Bury had involved the teenager running onto the pitch and celebrating with players after Rovers had scored.

“On that occasion he said he had drunk 10 pints of lager before the match,” said Mr Hollanby.

He said the Crown applied for a football banning order on the basis that the defendant’s behaviour could incite others.

“It is not violent but it could be the catalyst for violence or disorder,” said Mr Hollanby. “It only needs one person to start behaving like this and others will follow suit.”

Pc Susan Moore, the football control officer at Blackburn, told the court relegation to League One had resulted in reduced policing and a reduction in the standard of stewarding at games.

“Blackburn has a large away following and a small number of the fans have taken advantage of the situation,” said Pc Moore.

“Younger supporters, aged 16 to 18, have been largely responsible for causing issues at away fixtures.”

She said Blackburn Rovers were being investigated by the FA as a result of the incident at the Shrewsbury game

Damian Pickup, defending, said his client had been a lifelong Blackburn supporter and had no previous convictions.

He described Mr Henderson as “something of a pantomime villain”.

“He is known as someone who wears his heart on his sleeve and on a couple of occasions, when Shrewsbury have scored, he has celebrated towards the opposition fans,” said Mr Pickup.

He said his client was not involved in throwing anything onto the pitch until after Mr Henderson had thrown items back into the crowd.

“One of the things he threw was a coin which reportedly hit someone in the crowd,” said Mr Pickup. “The Rovers fans started shouting words to the effect that he was a big baby and should put his dummy back in.

“My client threw a Jelly Baby towards him as if to say you are a big baby. He didn’t intend to hit Dean Henderson or hurt him.”