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Second Aberdeen fan sentenced for carrying flares to New Year’s Day derby

Police and stewards step in after a smoke bomb is released inside the ground on New Year's Day.
Police and stewards step in after a smoke bomb is released inside the ground on New Year's Day.

A teenager who let off flares outside Tannadice has been banned from attending football matches for two years.

Nicholas Simmers, 19, was also given community service after he was caught with three flares outside Dundee United’s ground ahead of a clash against Aberdeen on New Year’s Day.

The Dons fan had claimed the pyrotechnic devices had been “planted” on him.

Last week, fellow Dons fan Findlay Duncan, 21, was also given a two-year match ban and sentenced to 160 hours of unpaid work for being caught with a smoke grenade inside the ground during the match.

Both fans had previously been warned they faced jail.

At Dundee Sheriff Court on Monday, fiscal depute Douglas Wiseman said police had been called to the Ambassador Bar in Clepington Road where a smoke bomb had been set off.

Simmers was stopped near the ground and asked if he had anything he shouldn’t have on him and he replied: “Yes, I have smoke bombs.”

Simmers, of Albury Road, Aberdeen, admitted being in possession of three flares, on January 1 at Tannadice Park.

Liam McAllister, defending, said: “His position is these devices were planted on him by people he does not know.

“He concealed them and realises that was foolish. His actions were regrettable and utterly stupid.”

Sheriff Hughes imposed 160 hours of unpaid work as part of a community payback order.

Simmers was also banned from attending all football matches for two years.

The sheriff added: “I don’t think you actually realise how serious this is.”

Police Scotland said they were “disturbing cases” that should serve as a warning to other fans to keep such items away from football.

Chief Superintendent Adrian Watson, the force’s north lead for match commanders, said: “It is fair to say the match day experience is relatively still a very safe one across Scotland. This has undoubtedly been strengthened by the inception of Police Scotland, with previous force boundaries coming down, effectively allowing for a better flow of information around the trouble-makers that would tag themselves on to our clubs.

“Police Scotland prides itself as an organisation that works closely with the clubs, football authorities and of course the fans themselves.

“These have been, to say the least, disturbing cases and it is incumbent upon me to remind the very few who may still contemplate involving themselves in such stupid, immature and reckless conduct that the over-whelming majority of fans want nothing to do with you and that we will continue to work with them and the clubs to bring you before the courts.”

A spokesman for Aberdeen FC said: “We support the decisions that have been made 100% and as has previously been stated there is absolutely no place for such behaviour in football and it must be eradicated as soon as possible. We will continue to work with the police and the authorities to stamp out the small minority that are determined to spoil events for everyone else.”