[T]wo football fans who verbally abused and made threats towards a female passenger have been fined.
Ross Moore, aged 21, of Dinningside, Belford, Northumberland and Adam Weightman, aged 19, of Steppey Way, Lesbury, Northumberland, both pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on 7th November 2017 and were each fined £220 and made the subjects of community orders.
Moore and Weightman were returning from the Preston North End v Newcastle pre season friendly on Saturday, 22 July, when they boarded a train at Preston traveling to Carlisle. They joined other Newcastle fans and immediately began drinking, chanting football songs and using abusive language.
The victim, a 32 year old woman, left her seat and approached the group asking them to quieten down.
At this time Moore and Weightman became verbally abusive and aggressive towards the woman.
The train manager, on witnessing the abuse, told the group to tone down their behaviour and language.
But when she left the carriage the abuse continued, this time becoming increasingly aggressive and aimed directly at the victim.
The pair began talking loudly about the victim in derogatory terms and making threats to ‘get her’ once the train arrived at Carlisle.
She texted BTP on 61016 to report the abuse and was moved into the first class carriage by the train manager.
Alerted by the text, British Transport Police officers were waiting for the train to arrive at Carlisle and on identification by the victim by witnesses, arrested the pair.
Investigating officer PC Stuart Bingham said; “The railway network is not an extension of the football terraces. Behaviour like this needs to be stamped out and we are working hard to combat this kind of culture. Football fans need to be mindful of and respect other passengers who are entitled to travel in peace and without bad language or being subjected to abuse or harassment.
“Thanks to the victim using our discreet text number officers were on hand to arrest Moore and Weightman when they arrived at the station and to bring them before the courts.”
