Man United fan fined for punching West Brom pair outside Hawthorns
A Manchester United football fan who travelled to West Bromwich for Sir Alex Ferguson's last game as manager punched two Albion fans outside the Hawthorns, a court heard.
Darren Maguire, aged 41, did not have a ticket for the last game of the season between United and West Bromwich Albion on May 19, but travelled to the game with friends to 'savour the atmosphere' Sandwell Magistrates Court heard yesterday.
Maguire, of Burns Grove, Warrington, had travelled to the Hawthorns with friends who had tickets for the game, and he had hoped to be able to watch the parade and see Ferguson after the game.
Prosecuting, Mrs Maxine Jarrousse-Jones told the court that it was one of the stewards who witnessed the incident which took place outside the ground, just 20 minutes before the game was due to kick off.
She said: "The chief steward saw this defendant swing punches at the West Brom fans. They connected with two different fans."
The court heard the fans did not complain to the police, but the steward contacted officers who subsequently arrested Maguire.
The court heard that initially Maguire denied throwing the punches, but in court he pleaded guilty to the public order offence of using threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.
Mr John Smitheman, defending told the court that the incident happened after Maguire's friends had left him to go inside the ground for the match.
He said: "He was walking around outside the ground when he was verbally abused by a number of West Bromwich Albion fans."
He added: "Someone went towards him and he threw a punch to protect himself, another person came towards him and he did the same."
Mr Smithedown said Maguire is apologetic and it was a 'moment of madness'.
Magistrates decided to fine Maguire, and he was ordered to pay £305.
Meanwhile in an unconnected case Matthew Barton of Chorlton Fold, Monton, Manchester also appeared at the court and pleaded not guilty to being in possession of a smoke grenade at the same game.
He was granted bail with conditions. The 20-year-old will next appear at Sandwell Magistrates Court on August 29 for his trial.
