This is Leicestershire -- A football fan who set off a smoke grenade during a Leicester City home match has been given a three-year football banning order. Joseph Williams, of Kirby Lane, Melton Mowbray, set off the flare at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, August 11, this year. Williams (23) was sitting among the visiting Leeds United fans when he ignited the smoke bomb. He appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Monday where he admitted the offence. Leicestershire Police successfully applied for a three year football banning order which means Williams cannot attend any Premier League, Football League or England match, home or away, for three years. He will also be required to surrender his passport to police prior to any overseas England game. The court also fined him £240 with £85 prosecution costs and a £24 victim's surcharge. Chief Superintendent Chris Haward, who leads Leicestershire Police's football policing operation, said: "The use of flares and any pyrotechnics in football stadiums is extremely dangerous, and serious injuries have occurred elsewhere in the country. "It is also very distressing and disturbing for those fans who have come to watch the game. "Together with Leicester City Football Club we will be taking a very strict approach to anyone identified using flares and we will seek to prosecute them wherever possible." A spokesman for Leicester City said: "The welfare of supporters at King Power Stadium is the club's highest priority and we will continue to support Leicestershire Police in its efforts to prevent supporter safety being compromised."
Reported by This is 2 days ago.
This is Leicestershire -- A football fan who set off a smoke grenade during a Leicester City home match has been given a three-year football banning order. Joseph Williams, of Kirby Lane, Melton Mowbray, set off the flare at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, August 11, this year. Williams (23) was sitting among the visiting Leeds United fans when he ignited the smoke bomb. He appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Monday where he admitted the offence. Leicestershire Police successfully applied for a three year football banning order which means Williams cannot attend any Premier League, Football League or England match, home or away, for three years. He will also be required to surrender his passport to police prior to any overseas England game. The court also fined him £240 with £85 prosecution costs and a £24 victim's surcharge. Chief Superintendent Chris Haward, who leads Leicestershire Police's football policing operation, said: "The use of flares and any pyrotechnics in football stadiums is extremely dangerous, and serious injuries have occurred elsewhere in the country. "It is also very distressing and disturbing for those fans who have come to watch the game. "Together with Leicester City Football Club we will be taking a very strict approach to anyone identified using flares and we will seek to prosecute them wherever possible." A spokesman for Leicester City said: "The welfare of supporters at King Power Stadium is the club's highest priority and we will continue to support Leicestershire Police in its efforts to prevent supporter safety being compromised."
Reported by This is 2 days ago.