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Bottle lob yob caught by DNA
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| Ronaldo celebrates his goal in front of the Newcastle fans |
A YOB who threw a bottle at soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned from football -after being trapped by his DNA.
Newcastle United fan Tony Heslop hurled a bottle as Ronaldo celebrated after scoring at St James's Park.
Now the 18-year-old has been hit with a three-year stadium ban after his DNA was found on the bottle.
Newcastle Magistrates Court heard Heslop saw red when the so-called winking winger put Manchester United 3-0 up and celebrated in front of the Geordie fans.
The trainee electrician, of Arrow Close, Killingworth, Newcastle, hurled his cola bottle at the 23-year-old star, before disappearing into the crowd, thinking he'd got away with it.
But referee Chris Foy handed it to police as he cleared the pitch and samples taken from it matched those given by Heslop when he had been arrested and cautioned for car theft as a youth.
Rebecca Geddes, prosecuting, said: "On Saturday, February 23, Newcastle were playing a football match at their home stadium of St James's Park.
"They weren't playing very well and were 2-0 down to Manchester United when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a third goal and ran over to the North East corner, in front of the home fans.
"He began to celebrate and during the celebrations, two half-empty Coke bottles were thrown towards the player."
Ms Geddes added: "The referee handed the bottles to police officers and they were submitted for forensic analysis.
"One of them had DNA on it that was traced back to the defendant.
| "He said he had been annoyed at the over-elaborate celebrations in front of the Newcastle fans and threw the bottle in frustration." | | Rebecca Geddes, prosecuting |
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"As a result, he was cautioned and arrested and interviewed at the police station, where he said he had been annoyed at the over-elaborate celebrations in front of the Newcastle fans and threw the bottle in frustration."
Heslop admitted a charge of throwing an article on to the field of play and was hit with a court bill of £155.
Northumbria Police's football intelligence unit applied for a banning order on the grounds it would prevent future incidents of violence or disorder at Toon games.
Heslop did not contest the application after it was revealed he had already been given a two-year ban by Newcastle United, who booted him out after learning of the evidence against him.
The order will run for three years and prevents Heslop from going to any match in England and Wales.
He must not enter Newcastle city centre during the 24 hours leading up to a game.
John Foley, defending, said: "It is to his credit that he admitted the offence when he was interviewed.
"He wasn't arrested at the ground and nobody saw him throw the bottle but DNA showed he had touched it.
"He went voluntarily to the police station, having been written to and when he was interviewed he said: 'Yes, I threw the bottle and I did it because Mr Ronaldo was over- excited at having scored for Manchester United and was demonstrating that in front of the home crowd, not his own fans."
9:51am Sunday 29th June 2008
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CommentPosted by: Jeremiah H. Flywheel, Ferryhill on 10:38am Sun 29 Jun 08
Mr.( Smartypants, I'm thinking of playing for Barcelona next season) Ronaldo should consider himself lucky, in my day a player taunting the home crowd like that would have had a lot more than two coke bottles thrown at him, more like clemmies off the pit heap, bits of light aircraft and dentists chairs, to name but a few.
Mr.( Smartypants, I'm thinking of playing for Barcelona next season) Ronaldo should consider himself lucky, in my day a player taunting the home crowd like that would have had a lot more than two coke bottles thrown at him, more like clemmies off the pit heap, bits of light aircraft and dentists chairs, to name but a few.
Posted by: Concerned Reader, Harrumph-On-Sea on 3:21pm Sun 29 Jun 08
I find this story hard to believe. Hardly airtight physical evidence, is it?
I find this story hard to believe. Hardly airtight physical evidence, is it?
Posted by: stu8, darlo on 3:38pm Sun 29 Jun 08
[quote][bold]Concerned Reader[/bold] wrote:
I find this story hard to believe. Hardly airtight physical evidence, is it?[/quote] Well the guy admitted to it so thats pretty airtight wouldn't you say?
what I find hard to believe is that this was a plastic bottle that didnt actually hit Ronaldo, so although the intentions were there, no actual crime was commited but the police still used their time and resources to catch him.
Would they do the same if your house was burgled?
Concerned Reader wrote:
I find this story hard to believe. Hardly airtight physical evidence, is it?
Well the guy admitted to it so thats pretty airtight wouldn't you say?
what I find hard to believe is that this was a plastic bottle that didnt actually hit Ronaldo, so although the intentions were there, no actual crime was commited but the police still used their time and resources to catch him.
Would they do the same if your house was burgled?
Posted by: Linda Jackson, Newcastle on 5:04pm Sun 29 Jun 08
i know Tony Heslop and he has never been convicted for stealing a car, he's been arrested for other things but never for car theft.
Most of the stuff in the chronical is just made up, half the story isn't true.
i know Tony Heslop and he has never been convicted for stealing a car, he's been arrested for other things but never for car theft.
Most of the stuff in the chronical is just made up, half the story isn't true.
Posted by: george, shildon on 11:06pm Sun 29 Jun 08
typical he is a thug and should be kept away from football for life
typical he is a thug and should be kept away from football for life
Posted by: Tony Heslop on 12:01am Sat 5 Jul 08
if we had of been playing coventry and i had threw a bottle of one of there players nowt wouldve been said, but cos its mr high and mighty i get clocked for it, canny petty like
if we had of been playing coventry and i had threw a bottle of one of there players nowt wouldve been said, but cos its mr high and mighty i get clocked for it, canny petty like
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