A Sunderland fan has been banned from attending their games after setting off a flare during their final match of the season.
Liam Appleby was celebrating the Black Cats scoring against Morecambe in April when he deployed the smoke device. Unfortunately for him, CCTV at the Mazuma Stadium captured the act, which had also come to the attention of stewards.
The 23-year-old was taken from the crowd and handed over to waiting police officers outside the ground, a court heard. The dad-of-one was arrested and charged with possessing a flare in a sporting ground.
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Appleby, of Station Avenue North, in Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to the offence at a hearing at Lancaster Magistrates' Court last month and the case was adjourned for sentence at Newcastle Magistrates' Court this week. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge..
Prosecutor, Claire Armstrong, said Appleby was in the away end of Morecambe's Mazuma Stadium during the final match of the League One season on April 30 this year. She added: "At just after 12.40pm, just after Sunderland scored, a red smoke flare was deployed in the Sunderland area, the away area.
"At 12.51pm, a second red smoke flare was deployed in the same location. CCTV was viewed by staff and they identified a suspect. Stewards went into the stands to remove the suspect, this defendant, from the stands. The stewards entered the stands and asked the defendant to exit."
The court heard that, once outside the ground, Appleby was arrested. During interview, he admitted throwing the smoke flare to the floor near the playing area.
John Brown, defending, said Appleby's emotions had got the better of him following Sunderland gaining promotion and he "dropped" a lit flare after being handed it by someone else. Mr Brown continued: "I don't think he realised how potentially dangerous it was. Sunderland themselves have already banned him from all home and away games for the next three years."
Sentencing him, District Judge Paul Currer said: "I can understand how spirits were running high, given things were going well for your football team, but, in an error of judgement, you let go of this flare. You shouldn't have done it and you have already been punished by being banned from Sunderland games for the next three years."
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