A St Johnstone fan who jumped on a Celtic supporters’ bus and chanted “deeply offensive” sectarian slurs has been handed a football ban.
Drunken Bailey Netherington was running from police when he clambered onto the coach and repeatedly shouted: “Dirty Fenian b******s.”
A sheriff told the 21-year-old he was lucky only the driver was on the bus, “or the outcome could have been very different.”
Netherington appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, likely to cause fear or alarm, at McDiarmid Park on February 5.
The court heard it was not his first football-related conviction.
Drunk and incoherent
Fiscal depute Bill Kermode told the court: “On this day, the stadium was hosting a Premier League match between St Johnstone and Celtic.”
He said that at 12.55pm – about an hour after kick-off – police officers on patrol spotted Netherington outside the stadium grounds.
“He appeared to be drunk and was shouting and swearing.
“He was being incoherent.
“The accused was asked to leave the site but he initially declined.
“He then ran off in the direction of Crieff Road.”
The court heard that two supporters’ coaches were parked at that end of the stadium.
The fiscal depute said: “The accused saw an open door and jumped onto the bus.
“He shouted at the driver: ‘Dirty Fenian b******s’.
“He did this several times before jumping off and running away.”
The remarks were overheard by a driver on a second coach, the court heard.
Reckless
Solicitor Billy Somerville, defending, said: “It is quite clear that alcohol contributed to this offence.
“He was not clear about what he was doing and at the time, did not realise how badly his actions and words could affect people.”
Mr Somerville said his client had no intention of going into the ground.
Sheriff William Wood told Netherington: “Alcohol is often thought to be a mitigating factor in cases like this.
“But it is not – it’s an aggravating factor, because you chose to take drink that day.
“This was an extremely reckless thing to do.
“It’s lucky that this bus was empty – apart from the driver – or it could have been a very different outcome for you.”
The sheriff added: “These are deeply offensive remarks and you have to accept the consequences of that.
“This is the sort of case that can attract a custodial sentence.”
Netherington, of Tulloch Place, was placed on supervision for four months and ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work.
Sheriff Wood added: “Given that this is the second time you have offended in a football-related way, I am satisfied that a football banning order is appropriate.”
Netherington was told he must stay away from any matches for 12 months.
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