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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| City pitch missile thrower banned | City pitch missile thrower banned |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| David Roberts, 24, from Pontypridd, was fined £200 and given a three year banning order after admitting the charge at Cardiff Magistrates' Court. | David Roberts, 24, from Pontypridd, was fined £200 and given a three year banning order after admitting the charge at Cardiff Magistrates' Court. |
| But he denied throwing a coin which hit the referee at Ninian Park earlier this month, insisting he threw chewing gum. | But he denied throwing a coin which hit the referee at Ninian Park earlier this month, insisting he threw chewing gum. |
| Cardiff City said Roberts would be banned from their games for life. | 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. | Meanwhile, police are studying CCTV from the match and say there may be more prosecutions. |
| The court heard claims that Roberts threw a coin. | |
| The referee Mike Dean suffered a cut to his head in the first half of the Championship match on 5 April after an object was thrown. | |
| But defending solicitor Vaughan Britton said Roberts had in fact thrown a piece of chewing gum on to the playing area. | 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 coin | Referee Mike Dean was hit on the forehead by what is believed to be a coin |
| 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". | 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. | 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 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." | "He accepts he should not have done so and he accepts that the court has to deal with him." |
| Police investigation | Police investigation |
| District Judge Richard Williams fined Roberts £200 and ordered him to pay £60 towards prosecution costs and victim surcharge of £15. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | As he left court, Roberts declined to comment. |
| Cardiff City said Roberts would be banned for life from all Cardiff City matches. | 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. |