February 18, 2015 5.55 pm This story is over 109 months old

Nine Lincoln football fans sentenced after home game disorder

Football disorder: Nine men have been fined and received football banning orders after disorder at a Lincoln City home game last year.
(L-R) (Top to bottom) Aaron Bee, Patrick Cassidy, Calum Nesbitt, Jordan Munks, Davy Nesbitt, Simon Purdy, Samuel Sellers and Edward Wilson

A group of nine men have been handed fines and football banning orders after disorder at a Lincoln City home game against Doncaster last year.

The group appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Tuesday, February 18, and all pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour during Lincoln City’s home game against Doncaster on Saturday, July 12.

The court heard how the men had gestured and shouted at Doncaster fans before, during and after the pre-season friendly in the area of Portland Street and the rail crossing in Lincoln.

A number of Lincolnshire Police officers, including the Dog Section and local officers, along with British Transport Police, were on patrol in the centre of Lincoln and the vicinity at the time.

Receiving a fine and a five-year banning order was:

  • Calum Nesbitt, 22, of Quorn Drive in Lincoln
  • Davy Nesbitt, 21, of Dixon Street in Lincoln
  • Samuel Sellers, 21, of Lichfield Road in Bracebridge Heath – He was also sentenced for breach of an existing football banning order and given a 14 day Community Order.

Receiving a fine and three-year banning order was:

  • Jordan Munks, 20, of Princess Square in Billinghay
  • Simon Purdy, 36, of Harris Road in Lincoln
  • Aaron Bee, 22, of Lamb Gardens in Lincoln
  • Patrick Cassidy, 29, of Ellison Street in Lincoln
  • Edward Wilson, 18, of Roman Pavement in Lincoln

A 16-year-old youth from Woodhall Spa, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a three-month referral order.

A further 23-year-old Lincoln man, who was also charged, failed to appear in court and will be dealt with at a later stage.

DC Tom Robertson, the Senior Investigating Officer in the case, said: “The defendants in this case were given really quite severe sentences, which adequately reflect the seriousness of their behaviour.

“Football matches should be an opportunity for genuine fans to enjoy watching and supporting their teams free of intimidation or harassment, and should not cause any trouble to the wider public.

“I hope the severity of these sentences serves as a stark warning to anyone who may go into football matches with any kind of intention to act in this manner – the consequences of acting like this are serious and have long-lasting effects.”