Football ban for man who threw coins

A West Bromwich Albion fan who threw coins at Wolves rivals at a match after his 13-year-old son was hit by a coin, has been given a three-year football banning order.

Scott Walker, of Turton Street in Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to "five minutes of madness" at the clubs' first Premier League derby.

He launched the coins at away fans in the Smethwick End when violence marred the clash at The Hawthorns in February.

Police said although injuries were caused at the match, including one Wolves fan who needed three stitches to a head wound caused by a coin, it was not clear from CCTV whether Walker was directly responsible.

The 42-year-old Walker was banned from all matches in the UK and abroad and ordered to pay £300 at Warley Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Passing sentence, chairman of the bench John Williams said he was shocked Walker, who was in the East Stand, had thrown the coins in front of his son.

Miss Kelly Hale, prosecuting, told the court the high-profile match had "the potential for hostility between the two sides".

She said: "The defendant was seen by CCTV to throw coins in the direction of opposing fans. Though injuries were caused, there were other people involved, and it was unclear what injuries he caused.

"Once the defendant saw images of himself from CCTV he handed himself in to police. He was quite distraught and showed considerable remorse for his actions. From police interview it appears his son was hit by a coin in the first place and that is why he threw coins back."

Walker, representing himself, told magistrates: "My son was hit by a coin, I reacted stupidly and I am really sorry.

"It happened at the end of the match, it was five minutes of madness."

He made no objection to the football banning order suggested by police.

Magistrate Mr Williams said the court was lenient on Walker because of his early guilty plea and because he handed himself in.

He added: "It is ridiculous behaviour for a man of your age. You could have caused serious injury or hit someone in the eye.

"And we find it very bad you took this action in front of your 13-year-old son."

Walker was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.