A WELSH soldier who travelled to Sheffield Wednesday to watch Cardiff City and became involved in disorder at a city centre pub has been banned from football matches for the next three years.
Mark Brown has also missed out on possible promotion within his regiment, because of the incident at The Howard, in Howard Street, where he was drinking before the game at Hillsborough on February 28.
Sheffield Magistrates heard Brown was standing
in the doorway of the pub holding his glass aloft and singing football chants when a police officer asked him to take his beer glass inside.
Brown, of Llanbradach, Mid Glamorgan, refused and rounded up to the officer, before struggling with him when he took hold of his shoulder to lead him inside.
The court heard the 21-year-old also insulted and a swore at the officer
David Wain, prosecuting, said: "The police officer asked him to take his glass inside the pub but he refused to move. He asked him again and the defendant looked at him with a fixed stare and stuck his chest out."
Mr Wain said Brown then swore at the officer and a struggle followed, which resulted in the policeman becoming stuck in the doorway of the pub as others blocked the way.
Mr Wain accepted that this was out of Brown's control.
He also agreed that the incident was separate to further disorder which occurred later at the pub, and for which at least another 10 men are due to stand trial later this year.
Brown pleaded guilty to causing a person harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
Chris Cooke, defending, said Brown had an "unblemished" record and was "highly thought of" within the Army.
He added that if it wasn't for the offence, Brown could have expected promotion within the year - a move now off the cards for at least another three years under Army rules.
Mr Cooke said: "This is going to cost him large amounts of money.
"He had too much to drink and accepts he was completely out of order."
Fining him £250 and £60 costs, along with the three year football banning order, District Judge Mark Hatfield said: "In the cold and harsh light of day, your conduct had potential to cause very serious problems for the police."
A further 12 Welsh men have been charged for public order offences - two of whom have yet to plead, and 10 of whom are to stand trial at Sheffield Magistrates' Court at the end of September.
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