Four-year ban for football fan guilty of swearing at police during Shrewsbury Town v Walsall match
A four-year ban from attending football matches has been handed to a man convicted of swearing at a police officer during Shrewsbury Town's high profile home game against Walsall last year.
Richard Davies, of Belvedere Road, Shrewsbury was ejected from the Greenhous Meadow stadium by police during the League One clash on October 14 last year.
The 47-year-old had denied a public order charge of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress but was convicted following a trial at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday.
Today he was given a four-year football banning order and ordered to pay £840 in costs.
Davies was found guilty of swearing at Sergeant Andy Jackson in the presence of other families during the match.
The court was told that Davies had attended the game with his 18-year-old son, and had drunk a couple of pints in the nearby Power League bar before entering the Oteley Road stadium.
Mrs Abigail Hall, prosecuting, told the court that when Shrewsbury Town scored shortly before 4pm a large number of fans left the stands and came down to the pitch side where they began swearing and gesticulating at the Walsall fans.
The court was told that Sgt Jackson and other officers helped the stewards to push back the crowds – which included Davies' son.
Following the incident Davies shouted to Sgt Jackson that 'he wanted a word with him'.
Giving evidence, Sgt Jackson said Davies had berated him for pushing his son back up into the stand.
He said: "I explained that if he was pushed up by myself or one of the stewards it was because he was in the wrong place. He should have remained seated."
Sgt Jackson said Davies used abusive language.
Following the incident Davies was restrained by officers and ejected from the stadium following a struggle.
He was taken to Monkmoor Police Station where he was later charged.
Representing himself at court yesterday, Davies denied swearing at Sgt Jackson but admitted to getting 'agitated' after his son was pushed over.
He accused Sgt Jackson of being 'heavy handed' as fans celebrated the goal against Walsall.
"There was no aggravation, we were simply celebrating the fact that Shrewsbury had scored a goal," he said.
"Sgt Jackson pushed my son hard in the back, my son lost his footing and hit his forehead. Obviously I was upset because I didn't think there was any need for it."
He said he had reported the incident to the Police Complaints Commission.
