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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Fan admits linesman coin attack | Fan admits linesman coin attack |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An Aston Villa fan has admitted assaulting a linesman by throwing a coin at him at a Premier League match. | An Aston Villa fan has admitted assaulting a linesman by throwing a coin at him at a Premier League match. |
| John Billington pleaded guilty to a single count of battery at Birmingham Magistrates' Court and will be sentenced next month. | John Billington pleaded guilty to a single count of battery at Birmingham Magistrates' Court and will be sentenced next month. |
| Billington, 43, of Beechey Close, Great Barr, threw a 50p piece at referee's assistant Phil Sharp during Villa's 0-0 draw with Portsmouth on 18 October. | Billington, 43, of Beechey Close, Great Barr, threw a 50p piece at referee's assistant Phil Sharp during Villa's 0-0 draw with Portsmouth on 18 October. |
| Mr Sharp needed treatment to his head after the incident at Villa Park. | Mr Sharp needed treatment to his head after the incident at Villa Park. |
| Billington is the managing director of an engineering firm employing seven people. | Billington is the managing director of an engineering firm employing seven people. |
| He didn't intend to hit anybody - it was just a sheer moment of madness Billington's lawyer | He didn't intend to hit anybody - it was just a sheer moment of madness Billington's lawyer |
| The father-of-two had been a season ticket holder at Villa Park since 1977. | The father-of-two had been a season ticket holder at Villa Park since 1977. |
| He had drunk six pints of beer before throwing the coin from the Trinity Road Stand, magistrates were told. | He had drunk six pints of beer before throwing the coin from the Trinity Road Stand, magistrates were told. |
| Prosecutor Nasreen Ashraf said: "Approximately three minutes before the end of the match, Mr Sharp felt a blow to the right-hand side of his forehead. | Prosecutor Nasreen Ashraf said: "Approximately three minutes before the end of the match, Mr Sharp felt a blow to the right-hand side of his forehead. |
| "At the same time he saw something shiny lying on the floor and he realised he had been hit on the head by some type of missile." | "At the same time he saw something shiny lying on the floor and he realised he had been hit on the head by some type of missile." |
| He contacted the referee via his radio headset and play was delayed while he was treated for a 1.5cm-long cut. | He contacted the referee via his radio headset and play was delayed while he was treated for a 1.5cm-long cut. |
| 'Very ashamed' | 'Very ashamed' |
| Billington had handed himself in to police following the incident. | Billington had handed himself in to police following the incident. |
| His defence solicitor Harman Bal said he had not targeted the linesman and had thrown the coin in a "moment of madness". | His defence solicitor Harman Bal said he had not targeted the linesman and had thrown the coin in a "moment of madness". |
| He added: "He accepts his actions were reckless, but he did not intend to cause any harm to the complainant or anyone else on the pitch. | He added: "He accepts his actions were reckless, but he did not intend to cause any harm to the complainant or anyone else on the pitch. |
| "He goes to every home game and most games away. He didn't intend to hit anybody - it was just a sheer moment of madness. | |
| "He's very ashamed of his actions." | "He's very ashamed of his actions." |
| Magistrates granted Billington unconditional bail and ordered reports to be prepared with a view to a community-based punishment. | Magistrates granted Billington unconditional bail and ordered reports to be prepared with a view to a community-based punishment. |
| Sentencing is expected to take place on 5 February. | Sentencing is expected to take place on 5 February. |