Football banning order for Wolves fan
A teenage Wolves fan has been banned from attending any football matches in the country for three years after running on the pitch during the game against Rotherham earlier this year.
John Shaw, aged 18, ran along the touchline swearing and gesturing at away fans in the second half of the game, which saw four pitch invasions following a flurry of late goals, a court heard.
The season ticket holder has now banned from entering any football grounds for the next three years and travelling on trains three hours before or after a match.
Shaw admitted using threatening and abusive words with intent to provoke violence, and going onto the playing area at the football match.
Mr Roger Blezzard, prosecuting, said Shaw was seen by police officers running down the touchline shouting 'come on then' towards Rotherham United fans.
Mr Blezzard said: "He has no previous convictions but has a caution for an identical matter relating to an earlier part of the season, against Crawley when he was a youth.
"This young man decided to go onto the pitch area between the touchline and advertising boardings, and ran with his arms outstretched shouting "come on then" to opposing fans.
"In this context, where there had already been some rather heated outbursts by some fans, this is always likely to cause some sort of disorder at a football ground.
"In the heat of the moment, football fans do very strange things."
Mr Simon Hanns, for Shaw, said the trainee quantity surveyor went to the police station with a letter saying he was disgraced with his behaviour and invited the football banning order.
He said: "He accepts that he had rather stupidly got in with the wrong crowd.
"It was foolish, naive and stupid and that is from the horses mouth.
"His behaviour could have caused more disorder but luckily it did not.
"What he has done since show remorse and that he is going to put this behind him.
"For the next three years, he won't be going to Wolves games, no matter how successful the continue to be, and that is huge for him."
Mr Alan Penduck, chair of the magistrates, said: "What you did at the end of the season was plain stupidity.
"It is a great punishment for you that you cannot go to the Molineux for the next three years."
Shaw was also given a conditional discharge for six months, and ordered to pay £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge.