According to the Grimsby Telegraph, "A football hooligan who hurled a smoke bomb on to the pitch during trouble at a Grimsby Town match has been banned from games for three years. He was an 'avid' Grimsby Town fan and the ban, which includes England away matches, would be a 'very real punishment for him', a court heard.
Lewis Beeken, 22, of Riverside Drive, Cleethorpes, admitted throwing a smoke bomb towards the playing area and unlawfully going on to the pitch at the match on November 15 last year. The incidents happened during the Mariners' away match at Altrincham, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Rebecca Dolby, prosecuting, told Grimsby Magistrates' Court that smoke bombs were set off during the match and were thrown into the penalty area. A man was seen to throw a smoke bomb and later enter the penalty area after Grimsby scored. He was not arrested at the time but was later identified from pictures that were circulated.
Steven Freestone, mitigating, said that Beeken travelled to Altrincham and he was standing in the away supporters' area just before the start of the match when others threw smoke bombs forward. 'He was standing at the front of that section of the ground when one landed by his feet,' said Mr Freestone. 'He very foolishly picked it up and threw it towards the penalty area. He did not throw it at anyone.'
He later entered the playing area after Grimsby scored a goal and 'went over in celebration' just past the hoardings facing the Grimsby Town supporters. 'There is no suggestion he went over towards the rival supporters,' said Mr Freestone.
'It was for a few seconds and he went back to the away supporters' end. There is no suggestion of anything provocative or aggressive but he should not have done it and he realises that.'
Beeken voluntarily handed himself in after being identified at another football match and he was not actually arrested. 'He apologised to the police officers when they spoke to him,' said Mr Freestone'...
The three-year football banning order means Beeken will not be allowed within half-a-mile of Blundell Park on a matchday, three hours before and after the game, or within half-a-mile of Cleethorpes Market Place or Grimsby town centre during the same period.
The ban also prevents him from visiting any town or city where the Mariners or the England national team are playing an away match that day. Beeken was given a one-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a Government-imposed £15 victims' surcharge.
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Nice to see a club take action against there own fans,
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Topic: Nice to see a club take action against there own fans, (Read 4328 times)