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Leeds Live
Leeds Live
National
Sophie Corcoran

Leeds United fan downed five pints of Peroni before racially abusing steward

A Leeds United fan hurled racist abuse at a steward after downing five pints of Peroni.

Paul Taylor, 60, from Castleford, has been excluded from attending football matches and made the subject of a 12-month community order for the slur he directed at a West Ham steward when Leeds United played the team in January.

Season ticket holder was watching the Leeds United v West Ham game, in the third round FA cup match on January 9 this year when the incident took place.

Read more: Kirstie Ellis murder: Man appears in court charged with killing Leeds woman, 35

West Ham went on to win 2-0 but before that Taylor was escorted from the stadium and then returned to verbally abuse the steward with racist language.

On Wednesday, he appeared at Stratford Magistrates' Court in London.

He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment at an earlier hearing. Taylor was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which was uplifted from a fine to take into account the fact he had committed a hate crime.

Taylor was also ordered to undertake rehabilitation activity for 15 days and was excluded from any football matches for five months. He was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the victim, as well as £85 in costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

Varinder Hayre, District Crown Prosecutor for the CPS said: "Calling out racist language is vital in stamping out hate crime. Hate crime will not be tolerated. These vile words and acts have no place in football or any sport or society.

"Paul Taylor's behaviour was racist and inexcusable. When interviewed by police officers he told them that he had drunk eight pints of Peroni on the day of the match.

"I would like to thank staff at West Ham who supported the prosecution by reporting the incident and providing statements. I hope this conviction encourages more victims to come forward and report such hateful crimes in the knowledge that we will prosecute the perpetrators."

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