Fan told to expect jail over horse punching

Barry Rogerson, 45, was charged after trouble flared when Newcastle United lost 3-0 at home to Sunderland in April.

Rogerson, wearing a dark suit, yesterday appeared at Newcastle Crown Court for a brief hearing where he appeared in the dock with five others who also admitted violent disorder.

Rogerson, of Hartlands, Bedlington, Northumberland, previously denied the offence.

He was photographed with a scarf over his face punching Bud, a horse working for West Yorkshire Police, as Newcastle fans turned on officers, having been unable to get to jubilant Sunderland supporters outside the ground.

Robert Adams, defending, asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared before he is dealt with next month.

Other details of the case were not revealed yesterday.

Well-wishers sent Bud gifts, including Polo mints, to his stables. The horse suffered no ill-effects from the attack, officers said at the time.

Rogerson and the others were granted conditional bail, including that they stay away from Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and England games.

Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said there will be applications for football banning orders.

Rogerson will be sentenced on October 24.

Judge James Goss, the Recorder of Newcastle, warned Rogerson and the others that they would be jailed.

“As each of you know, this is a serious offence to which you have pleaded guilty,” he added. “The court will have all sentencing options, including of course immediate imprisonment, open to it at the sentencing hearing. Please don’t think anything other than imprisonment is going to be passed for this offence.”

Rogerson claimed he panicked and reacted instantly and explained he was wearing a scarf over his mouth, not to hide his identity but because a filling had fallen out and it was cold.