Ban lifted on fan who stormed pitch after goal against Wolves

Stoke City supporter Adam Prime slid across the field at Molineux on his knees after Peter Crouch scored the winning goal on December 17, 2011.

Prime was given a three-year football banning order after pleading guilty at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court to going onto the pitch without permission.

But yesterday, a district judge overturned the order, saying Prime had turned his life around since his 'moment of stupidity', which was captured by Sky TV cameras.

Prime, aged 23, told Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court yesterday that he had started supporting Stoke City aged six, before going on to become a season ticket holder.

When asked what his intention had been in sliding onto the pitch, Prime, who was a 21-year-old student at the time of his offence and has since got a job as a plumber, said: "To celebrate with the players really."

Prime had been sitting with friends in the second row at the game in 2011. He stormed the pitch after striker Crouch scored in the 70th minute to win the game 1-0. On January 3, 2012, magistrates handed Prime an order banning him from attending any regulated football match in England and Wales for three years. Stoke City FC separately banned him from attending any games for one year.

At yesterday's hearing, district judge Graham Wilkinson said he was sufficiently convinced Prime had changed his ways for the order to be revoked.

He said: "Since you did this in 2011 in a moment of stupidity, you have got yourself a steady girlfriend and a job."

He added: "You seem to have grown up a bit in the last two years. I am satisfied that the order is no longer necessary."