Millwall fan fined for Wolves match-day visit
A football fan has been handed a hefty fine after breaching his football banning order by entering Wolverhampton on the final day of the season.
Millwall supporter Ben Hughes, aged 19, was arrested at Wolverhampton bus station ahead of The Lions' visit to Molineux on May 2.
Appearing at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court, he admitted breaching an order which prevented him from being in the city within four hours of kick-off.
Hughes, of Eltham, South East London, was ordered to pay a total of £510 including £85 prosecution costs.
Richard Quinn, defending, told the court Hughes had planned to get a bus to Dudley to meet his friends for a drink ahead of the match.
He said Hughes had no intention of coming to Wolverhampton but the bus he was on was 'picked-up' by police and accompanied to the city without stopping at Dudley as the Millwall fan had expected.
The court was told Hughes had previously breached his banning order in 2013 and was given a conditional discharge. The order had been imposed in January that year, for a period of three years, following an incident in Sheffield before the Sheffield Wednesday v Millwall game in August 2012.
District Judge Michael Wheeler said the previous conviction was an aggravating factor when considering his sentence.
"This is the second time you have been before the court for breaching your banning order," he said.
"In view of the fact you got on a bus destined for Wolverhampton when you knew the order was in place, it was extremely foolish."
