Eight Banned From Football Matches After Derby Game Offences

Eight men have been issued with football banning orders after pleading guilty to offences at the Chester v Wrexham football match in September 2014 at Chester.

All eight appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on yesterday. They were a arrested in relation to public order offences and pitch incursion offences that occurred at the Swansways ‘Stadium’.

The public order related to offensive chanting by a small number of fans during the match. The chanting related to a young Wrexham fan, Scott Torrens, who died in November 2013 after suffering an epileptic seizure.

Joshua Jones, 21, and Robert Croft, 23, both pleaded guilty for Section 5 Public order and pitch incursion and were given five year and three year football banning orders retrospectively.

Matthew Wilbraham, 19, Sean Sweetman, 25, Thomas Foy, 26, Jay Kelly, 18 and Tom Ashton, 18, all pleaded guilty to Section 5 public order offences and were issued with three year banning orders.

Adam Hardy, 25, pleaded guilty to pitch incursion and was issued with a three year football banning order.

Chester Inner Inspector Steve Precious said: “The behaviour of some the fans at this match was not only unacceptable, but also extremely offensive. The language used was extremely disrespectful towards the family of Mr Torrens.

“Disorderly behaviour at any football match in Cheshire will not be tolerated, and I hope that the orders issued today will send out a clear message that we will use all of the powers available to us to prevent it occurring.”

In addition to the banning order all eight were issued with fines which totalled £2128. A further three offenders, all under the age of 18, also appeared in court in relation to the offences, all three pleaded guilty and will appear at West Cheshire Youth Court for sentencing on 24 February 2015.

Football banning orders are part of specific football legislation; the orders mean that all eight men will not be able to attend any professional football match in the UK for a period of their banning orders.

The men will also need to surrender their passport prior to all international football tournaments involving the national team (England, Wales or Scotland) that they support.