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City pitch missile thrower fined City pitch missile thrower banned
(40 minutes later)
A man has been fined and banned after admitting throwing a missile towards the pitch at the Cardiff City and Swansea City football derby. A man has been banned for life from Cardiff City games after admitting throwing a missile towards the pitch at the club's derby match with Swansea.
But David Roberts, 24, from Pontypridd, denied throwing a coin which hit referee Mike Dean at Ninian Park earlier this month. David Roberts, 24, from Pontypridd, was fined £200 and given a three year banning order after admitting the charge at Cardiff Magistrates' Court.
He insisted he had thrown chewing gum. But he denied throwing a coin which hit the referee at Ninian Park earlier this month, insisting he threw chewing gum.
He was fined £200 with £75 costs and £15 victim surcharge at Cardiff Magistrates' Court and banned from west Cardiff on match days for three years. Cardiff City said Roberts would be banned from their games for life.
Meanwhile, police are studying CCTV from the match and say there may be more prosecutions.
The court heard claims that Roberts threw a coin that struck and bloodied the head of referee Mike Dean in the first half of the Championship match on 5 April.
But defending solicitor Vaughan Britton said Roberts had in fact thrown a piece of chewing gum on to the playing area.
Referee Mike Dean was hit on the forehead by what is believed to be a coinReferee Mike Dean was hit on the forehead by what is believed to be a coin
The prosecution claimed that he threw a coin that struck and bloodied the head of Mr Dean in the first half of the Championship match on 5 April, but Roberts denied this.
The court heard that it would be very difficult to identify the person who threw the coin which hit the referee, because so many coins were being thrown.The court heard that it would be very difficult to identify the person who threw the coin which hit the referee, because so many coins were being thrown.
Following legal discussion, prosecutor Helen Gambrill agreed for the charge to be amended to "throwing a missile" rather than "throwing a coin".
Mr Britton told the court: "Mr Roberts has never been in any type of trouble before. It is not the case that he was arrested in connection with the coin that struck the referee.
"He accepts in interview that in flicking a piece of chewing gum towards the playing area he got swept up in the emotion of a local derby match between Swansea and Cardiff.
"He accepts he should not have done so and he accepts that the court has to deal with him."
Police investigation
District Judge Richard Williams fined Roberts £200 and ordered him to pay £60 towards prosecution costs and victim surcharge of £15.
He was also given a three-year football banning order.
In making a plea not to impose a football banning order, Mr Britton added: "The criminal justice system to him is a completely alien environment and it seems unlikely that he will be before the court charged with any criminal offence."
But Mr Williams said the fact that Roberts allowed his "feelings to run away" from him meant a football banning order was required.
As he left court, Roberts declined to comment.
Cardiff City said Roberts would be banned for life from all Cardiff City matches.
South Wales Police said they are looking at CCTV footage and there may be more prosecutions.South Wales Police said they are looking at CCTV footage and there may be more prosecutions.
A spokesperson said there were a number of items on the pitch and this is forming the basis of their post match investigation.A spokesperson said there were a number of items on the pitch and this is forming the basis of their post match investigation.