A St Johnstone fan who admitted being part of a rioting mob outside McDiarmid Park will be allowed to attend future matches.
Lindsay Williamson-Bayley joined a crowd of around 30 supporters who caused mayhem after St Johnstone’s historic Scottish Cup win last summer.
The group of men – many masked and wearing balaclavas – charged fences and threw smoke bombs and fireworks at police officers and stewards.
Officers on horseback were deployed to quell the disturbance.
Perth Sheriff Court heard Williamson-Bayley, 28, was “no instigator or ringleader” but “got caught up in the melee”.
Sheriff Kirsty Hood fined him £270 but she decided against issuing a football banning order.
She said that such an order would have been available to her but decided it was not necessary – partly because the accused was not a season ticket holder and did not go to games very often.
‘The worst thing’ steward had encountered
Williamson-Bayley, of Leslie Court, Perth, pled guilty to committing a breach of the peace on May 22.
The charge stated he, while acting with others, formed part of a disorderly crowd who threw flares or similar at police and security officers, before forcing their way through a perimeter gate and repeatedly kicking and damaging a temporary security fence.
The court was played CCTV footage of the incident, which showed Williamson-Bayley among a large group standing near the crematorium boundary opposite the stadium’s north gate.
Williamson-Bayley is seen throwing a single flare on to the road.
Other smoke bombs and fireworks are then hurled when the team bus arrives.
Many of the group then charge after the coach, through a fence into the private car park behind the stadium.
Inside the enclosure, they clash with police and security officers at fence-off area.
Fiscal depute Stuart Hamilton told the court several fireworks and similar items were thrown directly at stewards and police officers.
“Given the severity of the incident, police requested assistance from other officers with personal protection equipment,” Mr Hamilton said.
“A mounted unit was also deployed and the group was successfully driven backwards onto the road.”
The prosecutor added: “One of the security officers said that she was shocked and frightened.
“She said it was worst thing she had encountered in her role as a security officer.”
Intoxicated
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said: “On this day, Mr Williamson-Bayley had been in the pub and had consumed a significant amount of alcohol.
“He has little recollection of being at this incident due to his level of intoxication.”
Sheriff Hood told Williamson-Bayley: “It is very clear to me why this incident was described as frightening for the stewards and police who were there simply doing their duty.
“I do accept you did not instigate this incident, you were not the ringleader, but that does not downplay what happened.”
The court heard a legal debate on whether a football banning order was appropriate, given the incident did not happen at, or during, a match.
The sheriff said: “I’ve given very serious consideration about whether to make an order in this case.
“It does seem to me that such an order would be open to me, because the offence related to a football match.
“However, I have taken into account that you are not a season ticket holder and not a frequent attender of games.”
The sheriff noted he had not breached a bail order that was put in place last August, ordering Williamson-Bayley to stay away from all football matches.
“For that reason, I will not make a football banning order,” she said.
First guilty plea
In June, father-of-three Anthony Green,42, appeared at the same court and admitted his role in the disorder.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis fined him £3,000 but said he could not issue a football ban because the incident did not happen during a game.
“This sort of behaviour needs to be stamped out,” said the sheriff.
St Johnstone fan, 43, admits his role in McDiarmid Park riot after Scottish Cup win
