Stoke City fan escapes banning order
STOKE fan Richard Dono has esacaped a football banning order - because he was so excited about Liam Lawrence scoring a goal.
Dono ran along the track between the Britannia Stadium pitch and the Boothen End after Lawrence scored the winner against Blackburn Rovers.
The 29-year-old was detained by a club steward, arrested and charged with going on to an area adjacent to a football pitch.
Zoe Speake, prosecuting, at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court yesterday, said "After getting on to the track around the playing area and jumping up and down along with a small number of others, Dono ran near to the corner flag where Liam Lawrence and other Stoke players were celebrating him scoring a goal."
The Football (Offences) Act 1991 states spectators fall foul of the law if they enter a "playing area or any area adjacent to the playing area" without permission at a match.
The maximum fine is £1,000 and judges also have the power to impose a banning order under the Public Order Act 1986.
But Dono who was fined £65 with £75 costs after pleading guilty, escaped a three-year banning order after magistrates accepted Dono was simply overcome with joy.
Simon Dykes, defending, said: "My client has been a passionate Stoke City supporter since the age of eight. He got caught up in the moment.
"He never displayed any emotion other than pure delight when the goal was scored, which would probably keep Stoke in the Premier League. It was in sheer joy that he did it.
"I ask the court not to make a football banning order."
The court heard Dono had already served a banning order for a football-related affray after trouble between Stoke and Cardiff fans in 2000.
Chairman of the bench, Jacqueline Reynolds, told Dono: "If you ever do anything like this again there will be a banning order."
Referring to the case, season ticket holder Dono, of Lewis Street, Stoke, said afterwards: "I am over the moon. It was a very good result."
Stoke City were unavailable for comment.
22 Comments
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by lovejoy, stoke
Thursday, April 30 2009, 2:29PM
“tim, stokie...i think its you that sounds like the prat!! who are you, the this is staffordshire comment watchdog or sumat??? sling your hook!
Fat, stoke, stop eating pies and open up your eyes! theres a bit of difference with affray against cardiff and jumping around on the track when celebrating a goal! does it say he has been in affray style trouble since 2000?? no! oh yeah, and wipe that bit of sauce away from round your mouth!”
by Roman, LiberalLand
Thursday, April 30 2009, 1:38PM
“Should still be banned though.”
by Roman, Sheffield
Thursday, April 30 2009, 1:32PM
“Did the haters not notice my (not so) subtle hint that this may have been a lighthearted stab at a chum?
There's a big winking kipper at the bottom of my post.
Nice comeback Rich apart from the terrible spelling and total lack of grammar.
Funny how the guy is shouting BEATTIE at me.
Up the Blades.
x”
by Ellie, Stoke-on-Trent
Thursday, April 30 2009, 8:37AM
“Yes, why did all the fans not get banned when they celebrated the promotion to the Prem. Oh, there would be no fans left to support them through the Prem season! Use the law to suit. The Stewards did over react.”
by Dave, Stoke
Thursday, April 30 2009, 1:11AM
“Roman Sheffield
your comments are so stereotypical its unbelievable! assasinating a mans character with your childish comments.
as for the case in question why ban him when thousands ran on when we got promotion? its that simple you can not just bend the British Laws to suit yourselves its got to be the same rules for all.”
by stokie, trentham
Wednesday, April 29 2009, 10:31PM
“i saw this incident, and the person who ran on the furthest dived back into the crowd. this bloke was just easier for the steward to grab! a total over-reaction by the stewards in my opinion and completely needless as they were merely celebrating a goal, and certainly not causing any harm or posing a threat to anyone!”
by Mark, Porthill
Wednesday, April 29 2009, 10:27PM
“In a season when our fans have been a credit to our great club, a catalyst for our success at home, a commendation from other Prem. clubs and a national phenomenon, I just hope that the club have the b***s to ban Dono despite the Magistrates inability to do so. We've done so much together this season ie got rid of ID cards, got Greater Manchester Police to recognise we ain't the hooligan element they thought we are etc. It just takes one or two morons like this and the 'can thrower' to set us back so far when we've come such a long, long way. Show your passion by all means, but keep it legal!”
by TJ, Stoke
Wednesday, April 29 2009, 7:05PM
“I am a stoke fan and together with 27500 other supporters attended the game in question, only 2 ran onto the pitch out of all those people. Its a disgrace that DONO hasn't been banned, we don't need sc*m bags like him at the games, its the likes of him that got he away day cards brought in. Additionally it makes me sick to see Ritchie commenting on here about how much his clothes cost when I know him personally and know that he has never had an honest or real job in his life.”
by TIM, STOKIE
Wednesday, April 29 2009, 6:26PM
“Roman sheffield.
You sound a right PRAT.
If you got nothing better to say, just keep away from comments, we dont want to read your nonsense.
You got some sort of chip on your shoulder because Sheffield aint got a Premiership team?
Thought so? BEATTIE BEATTIE!”
by Stephen, Bristol
Wednesday, April 29 2009, 5:31PM
“I agree with Peter. The decision to arrest this man in the first place was fairly arbitrary - just watch ''Match of the Day' any week. I suppose his previous conviction didn't help in the decision to prosecute.”