A masked football hooligan who set off fireworks at a crematorium before rioting with a group of 40 fans has been fined £720.
Plumbing apprentice Cameron McIntosh formed part of a mob who stormed McDiarmid Park in the wake of St Johnstone's Scottish Cup victory.
The group - sporting masks and balaclavas and waving flares - initially gathered in a wooded area in the grounds of Perth Crematorium.
Fiscal depute Sarah Wilkinson told Perth Sheriff Court that a visitor to the crematorium parked and then spotted the drunken group with a box of fireworks.
"At 6.25 pm police observed smoke rising from within the grounds of the crematorium where the witness had parked her car," Ms Wilkinson said.
"They observed a group of 30 to 40 males walking through the crematorium grounds. They began to sporadically throw flares onto the ground near the [stadium] gate.
"Stewards, police and other security were present in anticipation of the team bus arriving. The group were described as rowdy, aggressive and using unacceptable language.
"At 6.50 am the team bus carrying St Johnstone players arrived at the north gate and several members of the group through flares onto the roadway.
"The accused was seen in possession of a pyrotechnic device. He, along with others, forced his way through security fencing. Stewards had to withdraw behind the cordon."
She told the court that police had to don specialist riot equipment and call in a mounted unit to try and prevent the group from charging the stadium.
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said: "This was the day St Johnstone had completed a cup victory and Mr McIntosh had gone to
McDiarmid Park in celebratory mood to await the team bus arriving back from Hampden.
"He had been out drinking with friends and spirits were high. He got caught up in the occasion."
McIntosh, 21, was later identified from a post about the incident on social media platform Instagram.
The court was told that "the security guards were shocked and frightened. The police had concerns that officers and others could have been seriously injured as a result of the group's behaviour."
Mrs Cullerton said McIntosh had no previous convictions and had been banned from watching St Johnstone for more than a year as part of his bail conditions.
McIntosh, Broomside, Perth, admitted acting with others and conducting himself in a disorderly manner at St Johnstone's ground on 22 May last year.
He admitted forming part of a disorderly crowd, shouting, swearing and forcing his way through a security fence whilst in possession of a flare.
Sheriff James Macdonald told McIntosh that he and the others involved in the incident had "sullied" the team's cup final victory by their behaviour.
He said: "This was an extremely serious matter. There was clearly an element of planning involved in the conduct of you and others.
"You were part of a group with a common plan to cause disorder. It may be mitigatory that it was a celebratory occasion. What would have happened if this had been supporters of the losing team?
"It is ironic and disgraceful that what was meant to be a celebration - you and others sullied with your behaviour." He did not impose a football banning order.
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