A Raith Rovers fan has been fined after he was caught carrying a flare on the day of his side’s SPFL Trust Cup final triumph.
Police officers found the pyrotechnic device when they searched Scott Lavelle at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium where the Fifers beat Queen of the South 3-1 on April 3.
Lavelle, 18, of Dunvegan Avenue, Kirkcaldy, appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court.
He admitted illegal possession of the flare but an allegation he set it off, causing smoke to fill the concourse of the south stand was dropped.
Lavelle had also been accused of shouting, swearing and acting in a threatening manner towards police officers but his not guilty plea to that charge was also accepted.
Banning order warning
Sheriff Joseph Hughes fined him £470 but decided not to impose a football stadium ban.
He told Lavelle, who has no previous convictions: “Had you been convicted of discharging the flare it would have been a different ball game.
“I would have imposed a football banning order in the region of two years.”
The court heard hotel chef Lavelle has already missed a raft of Raith matches because of special bail conditions imposed before the case.
Kevin Morrow, prosecuting, said: “Police had reason to interact with a group of fans due to their behaviour.
“One of them was Lavelle and during a search officers found a blue pyrotechnic smoke flare in his jacket pocket.”
Accused found missing games ‘difficult’
Defence agent Lee Qumsieh said his client comes from a Rovers-supporting family and he has been going to games since he was a toddler.
The solicitor stated: “It’s clear from speaking to him that he is a sensible young man.
“He has been a season ticket holder for 10 years.
“He goes to games home and away, and has never been in trouble before.
“On this occasion he got carried away with what, for Raith, was a rare cup final appearance.
“He purchased this item and took it with him.
“He realises he shouldn’t have done that and has learned a lesson.
“Special bail conditions have prevented him from attending matches.
“He missed the end of last season as well as pre-season fixtures and the new season’s League Cup ties.
“He found that quite difficult.”
Sheriff Hughes warned him: “Do not go to a football match with this type of item.
“Do not care what you see on television or what happens around you.”
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