Poulton-le-Fylde Man United fan pleads not guilty to threats

11:59am Tuesday 29th April 2008

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A Manchester United fan from Poulton-le-Fylde has appeared in court following a large number of arrests before, during and after the game against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, April 19.

A level student Marcus Webster, 18, of Highgate Lane, Stalmine, Poulton-le-Fylde, was bailed after pleading not guilty to using threatening behaviour.

He is one of six Manchester United fans to have appeared in court following the arrest of 64 fans, 61 of them United supporters.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, told Blackburn magistrates that about 300 police officers had been deployed on the day of the match at Ewood Park on the day of the match because of widespread trouble at the corresponding fixture last season.

Jonathan Slater, 32, of Ashburnham Road, Northampton, pleaded not guilty to being drunk and disorderly in the Fernhurst pub and was remanded on bail.

Christopher Walford, 18, of Cartmel Close, Winsford, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was given a conditional discharge for six months and ordered to pay £50 costs.

Ian Huggan, defending, said his client was currently studying for his A levels and had an offer of a place at Durham University.

David Anthony Merrack, who was one of a number of people who ran onto the pitch when United scored a late equaliser, was not made subject to a football banning order after the magistrates accepted it had been an "isolated and impulsive" action.

Merrack, 20, a management trainee, of Chosen Drive, Churchdown, Gloucester, pleaded guilty to going onto the playing area and was fined £100 with £65 costs.

Nikki James Benson, 19, of Whitley Road, Collyhurst, Manchester and Kyle Buckley, 18, of Manchester Road, Droylsden, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a direction given by a police officer to leave the area and not return.

They were both fined £50 with £65 costs and made subject to football banning orders for three years.

The court heard that both men got off a train at Darwen, near Blackburn, where they were confronted by police officers.

Acting on intelligence provided by Greater Manchester Police, both men were ordered to leave and put on the next train back to Manchester. But they got off in Bolton and returned in a taxi.

They were arrested when they were seen near the ground. Neither had a ticket.