4:17pm Friday 3rd July 2009
A SAINTS fan has been fined £100 for throwing a missile at away supporters during a match at St Mary’s.
James Smith, 18, of Collett Close, Hedge End, pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates’ Court to throwing an unknown object at Burnley fans during the last home game of the season.
He is the first of 11 men to face charges over trouble at St Mary’s during the match which saw Saints relegated from the Championship to League One and ended with about 1,500 fans invading the pitch.
The club has welcomed the punishment but say they are disappointed with the magistrate’s decision not to back up the fine with a football banning order as requested by the police.
A club spokesman said it was now considering whether to ban Smith and the other identified fans from St Mary’s.
“The police and the club are very disappointed that football banning orders were not given by the court but we will be looking at these instances in due course with a view to issuing club bans to those individuals concerned.”
Meanwhile Southampton police are still looking to identify two of the original 11 men whose pictures were printed in the Daily Echo in connection with trouble during last April’s match.
Alongside Smith, police arrested five others and handed out a series of cautions to first-time offenders, including another 18-year-old man and a 17 and 16-year-old who were both given juvenile cautions.
A 14-year-old who also came forward has been bailed pending further investigation.
Anyone with any more information about the incident on Saturday, April 25, is asked to contact the Operation Jupiter team on 0845 045 4545 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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