A FOOTBALL FAN in Scotland, involved in a pitchside attack on Celtic manager Neil Lennon earlier this year, has been sentenced to eight months in prison and a five-year ban from attending football matches – despite being cleared of assault.
John Wilson had been accused of a sectarian attack on Lennon as the Bhoys played Hearts at Tynecastle on May 11th.
However, a jury at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month found Wilson not guilty despite the assailant admitting he had lunged at Lennon and struck him on the head. He had claimed the incident was ‘not of a sectarian nature’ with Celtic left incredulous at the let-off.
Now, Wilson has been convicted of a breach of the peace after the jury deleted an allegation that the offence was aggravated by religious prejudice. He was found guilty of ‘conducting himself in a disorderly manner, running on to the pitch, running at the away team dugout, shouting, swearing, causing disturbance to the crowd and breaching the peace.’
Hearts fan gets eight months inside after Lennon lunge incident
A FOOTBALL FAN in Scotland, involved in a pitchside attack on Celtic manager Neil Lennon earlier this year, has been sentenced to eight months in prison and a five-year ban from attending football matches – despite being cleared of assault.
John Wilson had been accused of a sectarian attack on Lennon as the Bhoys played Hearts at Tynecastle on May 11th.
However, a jury at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month found Wilson not guilty despite the assailant admitting he had lunged at Lennon and struck him on the head. He had claimed the incident was ‘not of a sectarian nature’ with Celtic left incredulous at the let-off.
Now, Wilson has been convicted of a breach of the peace after the jury deleted an allegation that the offence was aggravated by religious prejudice. He was found guilty of ‘conducting himself in a disorderly manner, running on to the pitch, running at the away team dugout, shouting, swearing, causing disturbance to the crowd and breaching the peace.’
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Attack Banged Up Hearts Neil Lennon