TWO teenagers have admitted involvement in disorder which sent pensioners running for cover after a Carlisle United friendly match last summer.
At the city’s magistrates’ court last month, 26-year-old Daniel McRonald admitted an offence of affray. And, at Carlisle Crown Court today (MON), Regan Scott, 19, and 18-year-old Jake Carruthers admitted the same charge.
This arises out of trouble – captured on CCTV – which flared on Botchergate in the city centre at around 9-50pm on July 9 last year after Carlisle United had hosted Scottish side Hibernian at nearby Brunton Park in a pre-season friendly.
At a previous court hearing, prosecutor Diane Jackson revealed the Carlisle “gang” was led out by McRonald, who was “at the front, shouting”. She said: “He was waving his arms around to entice a large group of Hibernian fans to engage in disorder and violence.”
After two bottles were thrown, the Carlisle group advanced on the Griffin towards Hibernian fans, who then chased back the Cumbria contingent, Mrs Jackson adding: “This caused several members of the public, from young to elderly, to run or take cover in doorways.”
During today’s crown court hearing, Scott and Carruthers each pleaded not guilty to illegal possession of a bottle during the incident. Their affray admissions were an acceptable resolution of the case, concluded prosecutor Gerard Rogerson, who added: “There is agreement that, upon sentencing, the affray will be opened on the full facts which will include the throwing of the items which, the Crown accept, were plastic rather than glass bottles.”
Scott, of Heysham Park Avenue, Carlisle; Carruthers, of Yetlands, Dalston; and McRonald, of Carlton Street, Hartlepool; are due to be sentenced on August 18, and were granted bail in the meantime. On that date, a judge will receive a community impact statement and consider football banning order applications.
