You may remember that, at the start of the month, Newcastle beat Huddersfield 3-1 at The John Smith’s Stadium.
The Magpies had been leading 2-1 and were defending waves of the hosts’ attacks when Dwight Gayle’s 91st-minute goal ensured Rafa Benitez’s table-topping side would return home with all three points.
You may also remember that the goal was celebrated raucously by one Newcastle supporter in particular, who jumped over the advertising hoardings.
The fan in question didn’t have much time to enjoy the win as he was then quickly taken to Huddersfield Police Station, according to the Huddersfield Examiner.
What’s most fascinating about this whole case is the reason that the supporter, named by the publication as Reece Smailes, gave to an actual court for his decision to move towards the pitch.
https://twitter.com/reece_smailes/status/808740859680354304
https://twitter.com/reece_smailes/status/808741478730240000
https://twitter.com/reece_smailes/status/809037219709206530
Smailes insisted that he had just got a new NUFC tattoo on his stomach and that it was hurting him after being shoved forward into the barriers while the fans around him celebrated.
So what else was there to do but to leap over the hoardings?
Rachel Sharpe, mitigating, told magistrates:
“The defendant was being shoved up against the barrier and then jumped over it to prevent discomfort having had a new tattoo.
“He ran towards the pitch but stopped himself before entering the pitch.
“This was in the last minute of the game when Newcastle scored and he was celebrating.
“He didn’t encroach into the pitch as he knows he shouldn’t and was quickly apprehended.”
The belly tattoo defence! GENIUS!!!
Well, it wasn’t that genius as Smailes was ordered to pay a total of £484 plus £85 court costs and £32 victim surcharge for his behaviour.
