A man who punched a rival football fan has been handed a three year football banning order after an investigation by British Transport Police. Christopher Little, aged 44, from Alfred Street, Churwell, Morley was handed the banning order on Wednesday, 25 May, at Leeds Magistrates Court.
Little was in Leeds City Centre on Saturday, 26 February 2010 where he had been watching the Swansea City V Leeds United fixture on television in a local public house.
The Court heard that Little had consumed five or six pints of beer before heading to Leeds railway station to meet his girlfriend. Once at the station he approached a group of Peterborough supporters travelling back from a fixture in Oldham and asked who they supported. When they told him he punched one of them in the face.
Police were called and arrested Little who pleaded guilty to common assault and was sentenced to a three year football banning order, six months supervision order with 80 hours unpaid community work, and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the victim and £85 in costs.
Under the terms of the ban Little must not enter any premises in which football is being played in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
When Leeds United are playing at home, he is not to enter the city centre or area next to the stadium three hours before and two hours after a match.
At away fixtures, Little is also not permitted to approach within a five mile radius of the stadium three hours prior to kick off and two hours after the end of the game.
Also on a day when Leeds United are playing an away game or the England national team are playing a home game, Little is banned from travelling on the rail network or London Underground transport system.
He will also be required to surrender his passport when Leeds United or England are involved in matches abroad.
BTP Football Intelligence Officer Wayne Mitchell said after the case: “Attacking rival fans whether inside or outside the ground, or on public transport whilst travelling to and from a game, is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated by police.
“Those who think they can behave in such a way, and ruin law-abiding supporters and members of the public days out in the process, should know that we will seek banning orders. Such behaviour is not welcome on the railways or at football matches.”
PC Mitchell added: “The majority of football supporters are well behaved genuine fans who enjoy supporting their team in good spirits.
“It is only the behaviour of a small minority such as Little, a so called football fan, who were intent on causing violence.
“We work in partnership with Home Office police forces and football clubs around the country in order to build up an intelligence picture of risk supporters that can have an impact on our policing of home and away games.
“We will not tolerate antisocial behaviour, violence, racial chanting, mindless vandalism or any alcohol fuelled disorder. We use firm but fair policing and operate a zero tolerance approach when it comes to anti social behaviour and disorder when fans travel on the national rail network to football matches throughout the country,
“Where appropriate officers will always apply for football banning orders to prevent those keep those who do engage in football related disorder away from the rail network on match days.”
