A 34-year-old Manchester City fan from Warrington has been banned from attending football matches for three years after he punched a female police officer in the face.
Season ticket holder Steven Mark Wilson, of Lintott Gardens, Warrington, received the football banning order at Manchester and Salford Magistrate’s Court after admitting assaulting the officer and a colleague.
He was also made subject to a four month curfew and must wear an electronic tag.
The court heard how Wilson was returning from a home game against Leicester on Saturday, 6 February, when he attacked the officer and her colleague at Manchester Piccadilly station.
He had been asked to produce his ticket by a member of rail staff carrying out a routine check but had become abusive and pushed him out of the way.
Two British transport Police officers and a PCSO attended and on asking Wilson to provide his details he continued to be abusive and became aggressive. As the officers attempted to arrest him for the earlier assault, Wilson became agitated and began flailing his arms. As they tried to subdue him he responded by assaulting the officers, punching the WPC in the face with such force that she was knocked to the ground.
Following the attack the 38-year-old officer has been placed on restricted duties.
Wilson was also ordered to pay £100 compensation, £60 victim surcharge and £520 court costs.
PC Dave Sykes from British Transport Police said: “Wilson’s behaviour was completely reprehensible. His vile abuse towards a member of rail staff who was simply carrying out this job was bad enough but to continue his tirade towards police officers and then to punch a WPC so hard in the face that the force of the blow knocked her to the ground is truly sickening.
“This loutish behaviour is utterly unacceptable and we will do everything in our power to bring people like Wilson to justice.”
