Mother And Daughter Accused Of Plundering OAP's £230K Savings

Maria Santos

A mother and daughter swindled an elderly infirm spinster, who employed them as her carers, out of £230,000 - even remortgaging her house after emptying her accounts, a court heard.

Maria Santos, 58, and Lucinda Johnson, 38, wrote themselves cheques for £5,000 a time, obtained a £67,000 equity release on the octogenarian’s Harrow apartment and even got themselves included in her will, the jury were told.

Sadly Audrey Evans, of Woodgrange Court, Woodgrange Close died, aged 89 years-old in 2015, but the Harrow Crown Court jury still heard from her via a police video-recorded interview she gave a year before her death.

Santos, of Haydock Green, Northolt and Johnson, of Westbury Avenue, Southall have both pleaded not guilty to five counts of fraud by abuse of position between September 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012.

The charges include the equity release, plus £32,000 from LloydsTSB; £77,000 from Nationwide; £13,522 from Bank of Scotland and £41,000 from the Halifax.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Hearnden told the court: “The case concerns a pensioner who had her hard-earned money stolen from her by two people she thought she could trust, carers, home-helps.

“The stealing was carried out in a number of ways, including equity release that allowed borrowing against the value of Ms Evans’ home and money she had in savings accounts was also taken.

“She trusted these defendants and they abused that trust to make gains for themselves.”

Miss Evan, who was engaged to be married in the 1980’s until her fiancé sadly died, had bone-weakening condition osteoporosis and needed a Zimmer-frame to get about.

Lucinda Johnson

She privately-employed Santos and Johnson to get her up in the morning and put her to bed, plus prepare meals and do her shopping and cleaning.

“She had a number of bank accounts and they ran down the balances and by 2011 more money was needed,” added Mr. Hearnden.

“The defendants were behind a plan to increase the amount of money they got from Miss Evans by equity release and the application form was filled-in almost certainly by Santos, who was the contact on the form.

“Ten thousand pounds was being withdrawn per month from her LloydsTSB account and there were ATM withdrawals of one thousand pounds a time and spending in restaurants and High Street shops.”

The jury were told the pair wrote cheques totalling £29,000 ‘to cash’ usually in £5,000 chunks. “This pattern was accompanied by a five hundred pound cash withdrawal.

“You cannot ignore the fairly large, substantial spending in shops and restaurants, plus a £9,400 car purchased by Johnson.

“Miss Evans said she felt scared of being left alone and they threatened to leave. She even changed her will in their favour, but changed it back when she realised she had been taken advantage of.”

Their employment ended in October, 2012 when Miss Evans had to go into hospital and her next-of-kin reported the mother and daughter to the police.

Johnson was arrested at home on June 12, 2014 and police noted she had a high-end washing machine and dryer, worth over £1,000 each.

She gave a ‘no comment’ interview and when her mother, who had treated herself to designer goods, expensive dinners out and theatre tickets was arrested she denied taking money without Miss Evans’ permission.

In her video-recorded interview Miss Evans said: “They were mother and daughter. I thought they were lovely people and they were with me for years.”

However, Santos persuaded the OAP to hand over her bank PIN after claiming to be embarrassed when subjected to security checks at the local branch when withdrawing money.

“She said it was embarrassing at the bank because she was asked all kinds of questions in front of people and said she could not do this so I foolishly gave her the PIN number.”

Trial continues………..

Ex-PE Teacher Admits Downloading Child Pornography

A PE teacher, who runs an educational company, was told today he faces imprisonment for downloading sickening videos, which include a five month-old baby being raped.

Julian Sebastian Derrington, 62, was caught by Operation Bellona Metropolitan Police officers during a raid on his suburban home on September 5, last year, from which he runs Timelord Education.

Until recently Derrington, of Hampton Road, Worcester Park was employed by Raynes Park High School in south-west London.

He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to making 47 Category A indecent moving and still images of children.

He similarly pleaded guilty to making 92 Category B and 31,309 Category C indecent moving and still images of children.

Derrington also admitted possessing a prohibited image of a child and possessing 52 extreme pornographic images of people have sex with horses and dogs.

Prosecutor Miss Mary Atere told the court: “This was the result of a Met Police operation targeting people accessing indecent images on the internet.

“Twenty-two devices were seized, such as laptops, tablets, hard drives and cameras and there was a very high number of indecent images on two of these devices.

“One Category A video is almost fifty minutes long and includes a number of children being raped and the youngest is said to be five months-old.

“There is obvious distress to the children and some of them are crying.

“The defendant was a teacher at the time prior to his arrest.

“The guidelines suggest a starting point regarding sentence of twelve months imprisonment.”

Derrington was bailed to appear for sentencing at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on condition he does not contact any children or allow them into his home; doesn’t seek employment in the education field and resides at his address.

“Obviously the offences are of a very serious nature considering the number of videos and the distress caused to the victim,” said magistrate Amanda Ottway.

“They are so serious you need to go to the Crown Court for sentencing,” she told first-time offender Derrington.

Woman Sexually Assaulted After Getting Off Bus

A woman travelling home from last year's Notting Hill Carnival was molested by a man who followed her off a bus.

Police have released this bus CCTV image of the suspect they are hunting.

On Sunday, August 26 at around 9.00pm, the 30 year-old woman was travelling on a Route 2 bus towards Vauxhall when the male got on.

They both left the bus and he followed and sexually assaulted her in a communal garden in the Pimlico area.

The victim pushed the male away, at which point he said "come with me".

The victim then ran away and got on to another bus.

The suspect spoke with an Asian accent and appeared to be wearing a religious skull cap.

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 referencing CAD 3349/27 Aug 18.

Alternatively, tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Machete Robber Jailed For Nicking Watch

A robber, who threatened his victim with a fearsome machete and snatched the £8,000 watch his father gave him, has been caged.

Abdalla Zachriah, 20, of Oxford Gardens, Ladbroke Grove, North Kensington received six-and-half years.

He was convicted at the Old Bailey of robbery and possession of a knife.

Zachriah robbed his victim, who he knew, near Acklam Road in Ladbroke Grove on the afternoon of July 5, last year.

He demanded his watch after a brief exchange of words and lifted his shirt to reveal a large machete-style knife with a blade measuring nearly half a metre.

The victim resisted, but Zachriah managed to unclip the watch strap and take it from him.

Police were called and after getting an account of the incident they located Zachriah a short distance from where the robbery took place.

Officers recovered the knife - concealed in the waistband of his trousers - and watch, a gift given to the victim by his father and worth around £8,000.

Detective Constable Lee Moon, of Kensington and Chelsea CID, said: “This was a terrifying robbery, committed against the victim by someone he knew as an acquaintance.

“Zachriah was arrested within an hour of the incident, and officers recovered a large machete from his waistband.

“Carrying a knife in public itself shows intent to either threaten or cause serious injury to others, and in this case it was used to commit a robbery.

“I hope this sentence sends out a clear message that we are committed to ridding London’s streets of dangerous weapons, and that both police and the courts deliver firm justice to anyone who is intent on carrying them.”

Night Bus Snoozer Wanted For Thumping Driver Who Woke Him Up

Police are hunting this night bus passenger, who punched the driver in the face when woken from his snooze on the top deck.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command have released this image of the suspect.

The driver was attacked on board a Route N279 bus after parking at its terminating stop outside South Africa House in Trafalgar Square in the early hours of December 2, last year.

The suspect was asleep on the upper deck when the bus went out of service.

The 55-year-old driver went to wake the suspect and was then pushed and punched in the face

He suffered facial injuries.

No arrest has been made and officers are now releasing CCTV stills of a man they want to identify and speak to.

He is described as aged in his thirties, with short black hair and a beard.

Anyone who recognises the man or with information is asked to contact the RTPC Reactive Crime Team by calling police on 101 quoting reference 1769/02DEC18, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sex Pest Wanted For Striking On Four Buses

This suspected bus sex offender, who left women passengers “frightened and violated,” is being hunted by the police.

He is believed to have struck on four different buses in north and east London during a two-month span last year.

At 1.30pm on Tuesday, September 11 on a route 253 bus near Camden Road Station, Camden.

At 7.43pm on Wednesday, November 21 on a route 149 bus near St Leonard’s Hospital, Islington.

At 11.58pm on Saturday, November 23 on a route 91 bus near King's Cross Station, King's Cross.

At 7.46pm on Tuesday, November 13 on a route 38 bus near Hackney Central Station, Hackney.

In the first three cases, the suspect sexually assaulted the victims.

The fourth offence was one of outraging public decency.

The women are aged between 19 and 31 years-old.

Detectives have released this CCTV footage recovered from a bus showing images of the man they are appealing to the public to identify.

The suspect is described as a black man, aged between 25 and 35 years-old, around 6ft tall with short black hair.

Detective Constable Clare Beauchamp, from the Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: “These incidents have left the victims feeling very frightened and violated.

“I am appealing to the public to help identify and locate this man as quickly as possible.

“Although none of the victims have suffered physical injury, the effects of becoming a victim of sexual assault can be lasting and traumatic.”

If you can identify this man, or offer any information to assist the investigation, please contact police on 101 and quote CAD5629/20JAN19 or tweet @MetCC.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Death Driver Still Using Cannabis

Court Date: Foames

A drug-driver, who served time for killing a mum-of-two he ran over, has again been convicted of another cannabis offence.

Billy Joseph Foames, 37, failed to learn the lessons from the tragedy and today appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a small amount of cannabis at The Rookery car park, Streatham Common on February 7.

Three years ago Foames, of Wigmore Road, Carshalton, was sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment for driving while unfit through drugs and without insurance.

On that occasion he was arrested after running over mother-of-two Maria Bridge, 32, on Boxing Day, 2014 after smoking cannabis.

Today he was conditionally discharges for twelve months and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Mother And Son Accused Of "Death By Fire" Chants At 'Witch' Neighbour

Mother and son born again Christians, accused of harassing their young mum neighbour with ‘death by fire’ chants, told a court today they were protecting themselves against witchcraft.

Leonora Joseph, 76, and her son Mark Joseph, 56, claim their neighbour, who has a young child, is possessed by the devil.

The Joseph’s, of Cromwell Road, Wimbledon have both pleaded not guilty to harassing neighbour Samantha Ginsburg on August 27, last year.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard they shouted and chanted: ‘death to Samantha’ and ‘death by fire’ outside the converted property despite previous police harassment warnings.

Today District Judge Andrew Sweet set a new trial date for March 28.

Mrs Joseph told him from the dock: “We are born-again Christians. This witchcraft is not practised openly and in past times they were burned at the stake. 

“The devil is the deceiver. He does everything in secret.

“They are always accusing the person they have attacked and they now use witchcraft as entertainment, magic.”

Mrs Joseph told the court she was simply quoting Psalm 94 Verse 1 of the Bible to protect herself from witchcraft.

Her son told the court they were living in “relative peace” with Samantha and her partner as neighbours for seven years until mysterious things began happening.

“There was a deterioration in our living standards that we have not experienced before.”

He claimed his mother was struck by a mysterious life-threatening illness in 2016. “Her vital signs were shutting down for a minute or so.

“For the first time in her life she had to go to hospital for a life or death issue.

“Over a period of time she was unable to walk. She was virtually bedridden for months, unable to go to the bathroom because she had becomes weak.

“There were a number of sicknesses and there was no diagnosis.”

Mr. Joseph said his mother spent 18 days in hospital. “They were unable to work out what was wrong with her.

“Now, thanks to God, she is able to move around and had her health.”

Regarding the charges he added: “This is a spiritual matter, not something that can be dealt with by any court of law or the police.

“We had been praying the word of God as our only defence, reading from the word of God. This is our way of dealing with it spiritually.”

Blackmailer Demanded £1,000 From Boyfriend

A woman who made a £1,000 blackmail demand against her boyfriend – threatening to continue a bogus assault claim to police – received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Joanne Singh, 33, of Southfield Road, Enfield claims there was no financial motive behind her actions, insisting she was trying to protect her own safety.

She pleaded guilty to blackmailing the man between March 1 and May 29, last year and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Singh must also complete a probation-ordered rehabilitation activity requirement of up to forty-five days.

Southwark Crown Court Judge Nicholas Lorraine-Smith told the first-time offender, who has been diagnosed as bipolar: “You are a vulnerable who needs to take care of herself.”

The court heard she has a background of psychotic episodes and was diagnosed with depression in 2014.

“Throughout your relationship you were not taking your medication,” the judge told Singh. “Your relationship was obviously pretty volatile and both of you say the other was at times controlling and he had autism.

“Blackmail is always treated seriously. When you demanded the money you said it was for a security and insurance against physical harm.

“This is a very odd offence of blackmail, not motivated by the usual financial motive,” the judge added. “It was a horrible, terrible ordeal that you subjected him to.

“You pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and expressed remorse to me in a letter and to the psychiatrist.”

NOT GUILTY: German Couple Cleared Of Stalking Ex-Neighbours

100% Innocent: Christoph & Sylvia Hons

A vegetarian couple, accused of stalking their ex-neighbours after claiming they endured intense “rotten meat” cooking smells from next-door, were yesterday cleared by a jury.

Senior restaurant sommelier Christoph Hons, 50, a wine and beverage expert at Mayfair’s Park Chinois and wife Sylvia Hons, 45, an architectural technician walked free from Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

The jury, which had been reduced to ten because the anticipated four-day trial lasted eleven days, found them not guilty by a 9-1 majority.

The German couple, who wasted £5,000 pursuing a civil claim against former neighbours Scott Lawrence and his wife Jessica Parker, insisted they always had their phones at the ready to record potentially anti-social behaviour. 

The Hons’, of Westmorland Close, St. Margarets, Twickenham always denied stalking the couple in the local area by filming them on their phones between January 15 and April 29, last year.

They were accused of filming their former next-door neighbours while observing from local cafes and as they ran past with the Bearcat Running Club.

Both couples ended up filming each other with their phones and Go-Pro’s and Christoph, whose home is equipped with multiple CCTV cameras, was issued with a police harassment warning along with his wife and Mr. Lawrence.

Commuter Admits Distributing Racially-Offensive Pokemon-Themed Stickers

A commuter placed racially-offensive Pokemon-themed stickers demanding the deportation of muslims as he travelled around London, a court heard today.

Company director Neil Froggatt, 48, admitted sticking them on London Underground walls as well as local noticeboards and other locations around the capital.

“You pleaded guilty to these matters, which the court considers serious,” Blackfriars Crown Court Judge Ian Darling told the first-time offender, who was bailed until March 11 for sentencing.

A previous hearing was told one sticker read: ‘Gotta catch and deport them all.’

Froggatt, of Stroudes Close, Worcester Park, Kingston-upon-Thames pleaded guilty to racially and religiously-aggravated criminal damage between November 16 and November 29, 2016.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing articles, namely the stickers, with intent to destroy property between November 16 and December 2, 2016.

“There is clearly going to have to be reports. All options are open,” added the judge.

The court heard Froggatt placed the stickers on a wall and stairway at Kennington Underground Station; a Tesco’s cashpoint in Worcester Park; a Sutton council noticeboard; the Plough Inn pub, Kingston and a Martins Newsagents noticeboard in Old Malden.

At the end of 2016 there were reports of racist Pokemon-themed stickers being plastered on tubes, trains and buses all over London.

One featured former US president Barack Obama, described as: ‘USA’s Muslim in Chief who has protected Islamic causes over those of the rest of the world.’

Another was of ‘Ginger Jihadi’ Jordan Horner, dubbed on the stickers as: ‘Gingermo’, whose weakness was being ‘allergic to sunlight.’

Also featured on the cards was London Mayor Sadiq Khan - worth the maximum 200 ‘terror points’ - and convicted hate preacher Anjem Choudary.

A website openly sought recruits to distribute the stickers, which were also seen in West Berkshire and at an M6 service station near Knutsford, Cheshire.

The court did not go into detail concerning which particular stickers Froggatt distributed and had in his possession.

Boozy Plane Passenger Jailed

An Great Yarmouth plane passenger was jailed for six months on Friday for being drunk onboard a Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Heathrow Airport.

However, Karl Foster, 37, of Kings Road, Gorleston remains at liberty after jumping bail and failing to appear for his trial.

He was convicted in his absence by an Isleworth Crown Court jury of being drunk on flight GF007 on February 2, last year and a warrant remains for his arrest.

Foster did appear via videolink from his local magistrates court at a pre-trial hearing, where his frustration with the case was obvious.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and asked: “How can I take action against the airline for failing in its duty of care?

“All because I had one pint in Bahrain? This is a waste of resources, money. It's stupid.

“Someone has a mental breakdown on a plane and they are charged. Is that it?

“This is absolutely ridiculous. I spent three weeks in India after someone was run over in front of me by my taxi driver.

“I was tired, I was fragile, I had not slept for three weeks. They filled me with vodka and I had a meltdown.”

When told the jury trial would go ahead Foster said to the judge: “Five times I asked for help and now I'm asked to shell out s***loads of money.

“How do I take the airline to court? Why am I being screwed over and my life turned upside down?”

He was also sentenced to an extra fourteen days to run consecutively to the six months for breaching his bail.

Wife Accused Of Stalking Claims Lawyer Told Her To Have Phone: "At The Ready"

Christoph & Sylvia Hons

A vegan woman and her vegetarian husband, accused of stalking their former neighbours, told a jury she always had her phone at the ready to record their anti-social behaviour.

Architectural technician Sylvia Hons, 45, and her husband Christoph Sons, 50, a senior restaurant sommelier, claim they were tormented by meat cooking smells from next-door.

The German couple wasted £5,000 pursuing a civil claim against former neighbours Scott Lawrence and his wife Jessica Parker, who they say harassed them.

The Hons’, of 16 Westmorland Close, St. Margarets, Twickenham have pleaded not guilty to stalking the couple in the local area by filming them on their phones between January 15 and April 29, last year.

“We were filming in anticipation of something that might happen, that another incident may occur,” Sylvia told the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury.

“We were anticipating something might happen to us,” she added. “The history is Scott Lawrence has followed me down the street.

“It was natural every time I’d leave the house or station to have the phone on record in anticipation of being shouted at or their dog coming up to me.

“He had followed me down the street menacingly before and my solicitor said: ‘Have your mobiles on and ready, but don’t give anyone any reason for thinking you are stalking unless something very dramatic happens.’

“There were also noises and shouts made at our cats at our end window, where you could hear communication.

“We thought our cats were being targeted.

“We wanted to have a normal life without having to film and be anxious,” Sylvia told the court. 

“He once started following me with a menacing grin in St. Margaret’s. That had never happened to me before and I hid behind a van and called police 101.

“I panicked.”

Both couples ended up filming each other with their phones and Go-Pro’s and Christoph, whose home is equipped with multiple CCTV cameras, was issued with a police harassment warning along with his wife and Mr. Lawrence.

Trial continues………..

MBE Entrepreneur Caught Drink-Driving After Triggering Alarm At £1.8m Home

Not A Fit Up: Tandon Leaving Court

A respected entrepreneur awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List was caught by police over twice the drinks limit after returning to his luxury home with more alcohol.

Garage forecourt tycoon Balraj Tandon, 59, was so drunk he mistakenly triggered his own burglar alarm when leaving in his Mini Cooper, prompting officers to attend the £1.8m house.

Yesterday he was fined £200, with £85 costs, plus a £30 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for 12 months - 10 months less than the guidelines recommend for such a high reading.

Tandon has previously said he was “absolutely overjoyed” when his MBE award for services to business and the community was announced.

He arrived in the UK as a Ugandan refugee in 1975 and said he was particularly thrilled because the award “came from the Queen,” adding: “We are royalists and we love her so much.”

The father-of-four admits he burst into tears on hearing of the honour.

Nicked In Driveway: Tandon's Luxury Home

“Clearly this offence is completely out of character,” announced District Judge Julie Cooper at Croydon Magistrates Court. “I have to take into account your exceptional good character.

“Throughout your entire life you have exhibited a drive to help others and these actions are very much out of character, so I am stepping away from the guidelines.”

Tandon, of Fitzjames Avenue, Croydon - co-owner of the nationwide ‘Park & Shop’ franchise - pleaded guilty to driving with 89 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath on January 30.

The legal limit is 35.

Prosecutor Mr. Jason Seetal told the court it was 5pm when officers attended the address to reports of a burglar alarm going off.

“They noticed a Mini Cooper with the defendant inside and saw him stumbling out of the car so approached him and he fell backwards onto the boot of the vehicle.

“They noticed a strong smell of alcohol and as they tried to talk to the defendant he ignored the officers and tried to walk past them as they asked if he had been drinking.”

Driving Ban: Tandon

Tandon claims due to the noisy burglar alarm and his ear wax condition he could not hear the officers and was not deliberately ignoring them.

His lawyer, Ms Williams, who refused to give her first name, told the court: “There are no aggravating features, but significant mitigating features.

“His sister very sadly has cancer of the oesophagus and he found out that day she had surgery and there was an infection and was very unwell.

“He arrived home alone and was very distressed and started drinking some alcohol and then made the very short drive to his local off-licence to buy more alcohol.

“He did not set the security alarm properly so the alarm went off.”

Tearful Tandon’s supporters packed the courtroom and Ms Williams added: “His whole community have come today and he feels he has let his community down and the police and the court down.

“He wants me to emphasise his own shame and the fact that he has stopped drinking since this.

“He is someone of exceptionally good character and runs fifty sites around the UK with his company model investing in young people and investing in their careers and starting out in business.

“It is a family business started by his parents and because he has sites around the UK the disqualification will have a significant impact.”

After working for his father at a single garage the family now have a business with a £200m annual turnover. 

Tandon is proud of raising over £50,000 for cancer research by donating the 5p plastic bag charge his shops collect.

He is a trustee of charity the Friends of Baale Mane, founded in 2001 to combat the exploitation of girls’ labour in India and a trustee of Wandsworth’s Hindu Society Centre.

“What he has done is inexcusable and he has a determination never to be here again. This is wholly out of character,” said Ms Williams.

As he left the dock Tandon told the court: “I am very sorry.”

Drunk Newcastle United Yob Threw Plastic Beer Bottle At Young Crystal Palace Star

Court In The Act: Mahoney

A drunken football yob, who threw a plastic Carlsberg bottle at young Crystal Palace star Aaron Wan-Bissaka, hopes his ambition to became a Prison Officer will not be effected by the conviction.

Floor layer Anthony Mahoney, 31, had consumed a dozen beers while travelling with Newcastle United supporters for their away match in south London.

The green bottle he hurled from the Arthur Waite stand at Selhurst Park made contact with the highly-rated right-back, who fortunately received no injury.

The incident was caught on camera and was circulated on social media, leading to the identification of Mahoney, who was so drunk he doesn’t remember it.

Mahoney, of Stephenson House, Stephenson Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear pleaded guilty today to throwing a missile onto a football playing area on September 22, last year.

He claims to be more of a rugby fan, saying the 0-0 Premier League fixture was the first match he ever attended and District Judge Julie Cooper rejected the prosecution’s application for a football banning order.

Prosecutor Mr. Jason Seetal told Croydon Magistrates Court: “The defendant attended with Newcastle United fans and during the second half he threw a bottle onto the pitch that hit one of the players, Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

“Fortunately that player was not injured and the bottle was removed from the pitch.

Boozing: Mahoney At Match

“That incident was circulated on social media and from that the defendant was identified.”

Mahoney was arrested and questioned by police. “He said: ‘I don’t remember if I’m honest. I had some cans going down after no breakfast and I was completely drunk.’

“He said he was a rugby fan, not a football fan and was down with friends and did not want to threaten violence and said throwing the bottle was a drunken mistake,” added Mr. Seetal.

“He said he had about twelve pints in total.”

Applying for an order prohibiting Mahoney attending matches the prosecutor said: “Alcohol seems to have been a factor here so the prosecution say there is a risk of attending future football matches.”

First-time offender Mahoney told the court: “It was out of character, a drunken mistake. I’m not into football and I just went down with the lads and I apologise.

Mahoney's Empty

“I am applying to be a Prison Officer and that is coming up soon. I have not had a drink since.

“It was a plastic bottle and I just threw it without thinking of the consequences. It was a stupid mistake.

“I play rugby, I’m a member of a rugby team. There was a spare ticket going so I just went.

“It is the first football match I have ever been to.”

Regarding his career plans with the prison service Judge Cooper told him: “I would think they will see you have a criminal record.”

Mahoney received a six-month conditional discharge, with £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

“You a rugby person and it is unlikely you will attend more matches,” she told him. “You did throw a missile during the football game and you could have caused the player serious harm by your actions.

“The consequences of your actions could have been extremely serious, but this offence is completely out of character.

“I accept it was though excitement and I am sure you will not be before the court again.”