Judge hands suspended prison sentence to 'unlikely hooligan'

Gregory Teahan took exception to the Manchester United fan in that club's colours and hat entering the Wetherspoons pub on the Leeds Railway Station concourse where he and other jubilant Leeds supporters were gathered on the evening of January 3.

Giles Bridge, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday staff had already stopped serving Teahan alcohol because it was considered he had already drunk enough.

When he saw the Manchester fan at about 9pm he shouted at him for daring to come into a Leeds United pub. Others around him tried to calm him down but he then asked if it was a joke.

The other man took off his hat and said it was but was verbally abused as Teahan moved towards him.

Mr Bridge said when a member of staff told Teahan it was he who should leave, his response was "No, he's in a Leeds pub" as he moved towards the other man who was leaving.

Matthew Mills, another member of staff, went after the Manchester fan to tell him he need not go, but as he neared the glass exit door, Teahan picked up a half pint glass and threw it towards the exiting man.

It went over the head of Mr Mills and smashed into the plate glass door which shattered, the security glass dropped straight down but a small amount went over Mr Mills, although he was not hurt.

Later Teahan claimed he had been kicked by the other fan and said: "I wouldn't have done it if I wasn't drunk." He said he had consumed six pints of Guinness.

Graham Parkin, for Teahan, said he had never been in any trouble before and had difficulty in coming to terms with what he had done.

Teahan, 49 of Park Avenue, Allerton Bywater, Castleford, admitted affray and was given 52 weeks in jail suspended for two years, 250 hours unpaid work, 1,197.50 compensation and 1,493 costs.

Judge Paul Hoffman said he had just been persuaded not to jail him immediately believing Teahan had learned his lesson, but warned him not to drink if it caused him to behave in such a tribal way.

"At 49 you're an unlikely hooligan but on that night that's exactly how you behaved, as a drunken hooligan and you did an act which could have had the most appalling consequences."