5 months in jail...

[Voll Blau]

...and all because he had a beer while watching the football.

How ridiculous this country is.

A football fan banned from travelling abroad to matches who went to watch England in the Ukraine during Euro 2012 has been jailed for five months.

Manchester United supporter Pele Duncan told police he was visiting his girlfriend’s seriously ill father in Germany and was given back his passport so he could fly to Berlin.

But the 26-year-old was filmed partying with England fans in Kiev during the European Championships and in the Olympic Stadium during a match against Italy.

Earlier this month, Duncan, of Liverpool Old Road, Much Hoole, near Preston, admitted failing to comply with his order between June 15 and June 25 and failing to hand in his passport before August 8.

He claimed he had only gone to the Ukraine following a disagreement with his girlfriend’s mother in Germany.

But at a sentencing hearing at Preston Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Duncan admitted his entire defence was a lie and that his girlfriend’s father had not even been sick.

James Towey, defending, said Duncan had been jealous of his friends who were travelling to the tournament.

He said: “I think it is to this defendant’s credit that he has finally come out with the truth.

“When he was originally arrested that is where this story came from. He thought it would never be heard outside the four police station walls.

“It was nothing other than feeling envious of his friends - they are not subject to banning orders - and feeling at that stage ‘I want to go’.â€

The dad-of-one was originally handed a football banning order in November 2010 after he was thrown out of Old Trafford for drinking alcohol in sight of the pitch.

Under the terms he must give his passport to the police whenever Manchester United or England play abroad.

Mr Towey said his client had suffered the “embarrassment and social stigma†of the story being “plastered†across the media and asked for a suspended sentence with an unpaid work requirement.

Duncan, who also has links to Preston North End and was previously given a 12-month conditional discharge for breaching his order in March last year, also spoke in court.

He said: “I just need to say I really apologise. I know what I’ve done and I do regret it.

“I’ve been stupid and put people in positions they didn’t need to be in.â€

But magistrates said Duncan must face jail after “fabricating the cover storyâ€.

Sentencing him to five months in prison in total, magistrate Barbara Bennett said: “This was a blatant disregard of court orders. It was undoubtedly planned well in advance, ie, premeditated.

“Your deception, until today, has involved other authorities in the UK and even giving a false name to the Ukraine police.

“This magistrates’ court will not tolerate the abuse of the court order. This is a keystone of British justice and it must be seen as sacrosanct.â€

Duncan was also handed a new three-year banning order.

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/football-fan-who-lied-so-he-could-go-to-euro-2012-jailed-1-4937509

[Dan]

"Justice" is one of the wonders of the world to me.

[Stocker]

5 Months in prison for supporting Man U seams fair to me

[purpleronnie]

Thats not true though is it...if he hadn't breached the order he wouldnt have had that sentence,,,,and he didnt just breach it once....yes it is a silly sentence but he wasnt sent to jail for drinking beer at the football.

[Voll Blau]

Thats not true though is it...if he hadn't breached the order he wouldnt have had that sentence,,,,and he didnt just breach it once....yes it is a silly sentence but he wasnt sent to jail for drinking beer at the football.

I know. Poetic license and all that.

But like you say it is silly, and that's the main point.

[Guest Bilo]

So he was given a football banning order for drinking beer within sight of the pitch.

Not caving in a policeman's skull.

Not racist chanting.

Drinking beer past the concourse.

He has to hand in his passport every time England or his team play away from home because he had a pint in his seat nearly two years ago. What an absolutely ludicrous state of affairs to go from taking your Carling into the stand to prison, what a waste of taxpayers' money.

If there's a worse country in Europe to be a football fan in Europe than England, I've no idea where it is.

[Webbo]

He must have done something to receive the banning order and then he made up a story so he could get around it. Doesn't seem harsh to me.

[Corky]

It is a stupid rule, unless they think it would encourage people to chuck beer everywhere. The only reason I can see why they'd have that rule.

Though why anyone would buy a drink then throw it away is anyone's guess.

[Guest Bilo]

It is a stupid rule, unless they think it would encourage people to chuck beer everywhere. The only reason I can see why they'd have that rule.

Though why anyone would buy a drink then throw it away is anyone's guess.

You have tasted the draught beer at the KP right?

The law on beer being consumed within sight of the pitch is a stupid one. Quite why the authorities think the sight of a pitch mixed with beer will cause a civil war is a mystery, anybody who wants to get drunk can do so pre-match and on the concourse. Clubs are even designing new stands and stadia with open concourses to get around the law for crying out loud.

It's about time that law was taken off the statute book to be honest because football is a very different place from when the law introduced.

[Corky]

You have tasted the draught beer at the KP right?

The law on beer being consumed within sight of the pitch is a stupid one. Quite why the authorities think the sight of a pitch mixed with beer will cause a civil war is a mystery, anybody who wants to get drunk can do so pre-match and on the concourse. Clubs are even designing new stands and stadia with open concourses to get around the law for crying out loud.

It's about time that law was taken off the statute book to be honest because football is a very different place from when the law introduced.

Exactly, can't see how it makes such a difference that will almost cause carnage.

[21st Century Fox]

So can you drink champagne in an executive box overlooking the pitch?

[James.]

So can you drink champagne in an executive box overlooking the pitch?

Not during play. I was in a box at the Emirates and pre match, half time, etc was fine but during the game they pulled blinds down so you either went out on the terrace without a drink or stayed inside getting pissed watching on TV. At least that's my understanding.

[21st Century Fox]

Not during play. I was in a box at the Emirates and pre match, half time, etc was fine but during the game they pulled blinds down so you either went out on the terrace without a drink or stayed inside getting pissed watching on TV. At least that's my understanding.

That sounds right. I went to a Sunderland game in a box years ago but I was too young to drink, I can't remember how it works.

[Richard]

Duncan, who also has links to Preston North End

Makes PNE sound like's a drugs gang

[Guest Bilo]

Not during play. I was in a box at the Emirates and pre match, half time, etc was fine but during the game they pulled blinds down so you either went out on the terrace without a drink or stayed inside getting pissed watching on TV. At least that's my understanding.

This really does belong on dumblaws.com doesn't it?

[The Year Of The Fox]

Shocking rules, especially when its ironic that whilst at the Italy game in Kiev I didn't see many fans without a beer pitchside. Admittedly I didn't see much full stop

[Alexikokopops]

I still don't believe he was given a banning order JUST for drinking in sight of the pitch, especially when you consider what it says on the Home Office website

How they work

Banning orders are issued by the courts following a conviction of a football-related offence, or after a complaint by the Crown Prosecution Service or a local police force. For an order to be issued, it must be proved that the accused person has caused or contributed to football-related violence or disorder and that an order will prevent them from misbehaving further.

Orders are not imposed on people solely on the basis of minor convictions such as alcohol offences, or similar misdemeanours.

They can last between three and ten years and can be customised to address individual behaviour patterns. Breach of an order is a criminal offence and is punishable by a maximum sentence of six months in prison (however this is extremely rare).

[Guest MattP]

Crikey, the courts in this country are just going madder and madder.

[AdamN]

While the law about consuming alcohol in the stands may be a stupid one, he was given a banning order and he violated it. Not agreeing with the law isn't an excuse.

[MPH]

THe courts will be dammned if they do and dammned if they dont.

The law is pretty much in place to try and stop English hooliganism abroad ( the banning passports part) Should we just get rid of it? Or not punish those who break it.

I for one like the fact our reputation is much better abroad these days.

[Captain...]

I still don't believe he was given a banning order JUST for drinking in sight of the pitch, especially when you consider what it says on the Home Office website

How they work

Banning orders are issued by the courts following a conviction of a football-related offence, or after a complaint by the Crown Prosecution Service or a local police force. For an order to be issued, it must be proved that the accused person has caused or contributed to football-related violence or disorder and that an order will prevent them from misbehaving further.

Orders are not imposed on people solely on the basis of minor convictions such as alcohol offences, or similar misdemeanours.

They can last between three and ten years and can be customised to address individual behaviour patterns. Breach of an order is a criminal offence and is punishable by a maximum sentence of six months in prison (however this is extremely rare).

Have to agree with this, there is no way he would have been banned just for drinking in the stadium, if he got violent and or aggressive over being told he couldn't or it is repeated offences, then technically the papers could say he was banned for drinking in sight of the pitch to put a spin on the story, but I am sure there is more to it than that.

[Guest MattP]

Don't forget two Leicester fans were given long banning orders just for stepping into the side of the pitch at Southend for celebrating a goal.

I can fully believe he got a banning order for having a pint, the courts are fcuked when it comes to football fans.

[AyewJoking]

Don't forget two Leicester fans were given long banning orders just for stepping into the side of the pitch at Southend for celebrating a goal.

I can fully believe he got a banning order for having a pint, the courts are fcuked when it comes to football fans.

[FoxesAreBlue]

Was war hint my brother play for Hinckley Utd from the little lounge/suite thing they have and I wasn't allowed to lean on, or put my beer on the window sill, I had to stand literally 1 metre from the window (could still see) and hold the beer, or put the beer on a table behind me if I wanted to lean!

The steward telling me this seemed almost apologetic as he too realised how stupid the rule is! But fair play, that's the law and so I complied!

[leicesterseddon]

He hasn't got 5 months in jail for drinking in sight of the pitch. That's what got him the 12-month banning order in 2010.

He got the 5 months for breaking the order and lying to the police and in court.

Obviously both penalties are too harsh, but the title of the thread is false and misleading.