Drunken lout gets footy ban

A Derbyshire police officer convinced a court to impose a five-year football banning order on a boozy hooligan after a match at Alfreton Town’s Impact Arena.
Impact ArenaImpact Arena
Impact Arena

Chesterfield magistrates court heard on Friday, May 23, how Grimsby Town FC supporter Kayne Hargreaves, 20, had been drinking and was abusive to police and others before his team’s Skrill Conference Premier match against Alfreton.

Prosecuting solicitor Sarah Haslam said: “A police officer noticed a group of males who were part of the Grimsby Town Risk Group and Hargreaves was stopped because he was carrying wine and was shouting and swearing and his eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred. He was abusive and was asked to hand over the wine and to calm down. Hargreaves walked towards two males and shouted at them in an aggressive manner. He was told to shut up and get back but he refused and was arrested.”

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Hargreaves, of Bradley Road, Barnoldby-Le-Beck, Grimsby, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour after the incident on April 18. The court heard he has previous convictions including two football banning orders.

The defendant said he got carried away and claimed he has an alcohol problem and is distancing himself from people who are a bad influence.

Pc Roger Brown, of Derbyshire Constabulary, said: “Football disorder is sadly on the increase and the Home Office and police are trying to do everything to address this with limited resources. I request a five-year ban be imposed. The World Cup is coming and the Euros will be in France in two years. We hope the court would support us as much as possible to address this blight.”

Magistrates sentenced Hargreaves to a five-year ban from matches, fined him £75 and ordered he pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.