http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2453043.stm Tuesday, 12 November, 2002, 19:56 GMT
Man guilty of attacking football drummer
Smith denied common assault
A 73-year-old football fan has been found guilty of attacking a rival supporter for beating a drum.
Edward Smith, a Mildenhall Town fan, had denied assaulting David Ainslie, known as Dave the Drummer, who supports Lowestoft Town.
He said: "I know I was pushed into him and some other people and that was all it was; I was pushed".
Mildenhall magistrates ordered Smith to pay Mr Ainslie £100 compensation and to pay £100 court costs.
Mr Ainslie, 51, is a familiar sight and sound at Lowestoft matches, magistrates heard.
Smith threatened him then pushed him over a safety barrier during half time at a match in August, the court was told.
Mr Ainslie: Dave the Drummer
Ian Devine, prosecuting, said Smith had approached Mr Ainslie and told him: "If you don't stop playing that drum during the second half then I will stick your head through it."
Mr Devine said Smith had then pushed Mr Ainslie over a metal barrier by the side of the pitch.
"He took hold of him from behind and pulled him back and in doing so Mr Ainslie banged his head on the metal part of the barrier, causing an injury to the top part of his head."
Mr Ainslie, a former drummer with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, told the court he had banged the drum for 10 minutes at the start of the game.
He said he had been left shocked and concussed by the alleged assault, and had received medical treatment at the scene.
Mr Ainslie said it was "a tradition amongst Lowestoft Town fans to play the drum to encourage the team".
Smith, a former civilian aviation worker at a nearby American air base, told the court he had complained about the drumming.
He said: "I think everyone was irritated (by the drumming) who was at the ground".
