The Peterborough United fan who spat at Town wideman Wes Burns following the Blues’ first goal in the 3-0 win at London Road last month has been fined.

Leroy Miller, 45, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court today and pleaded guilty to using threatening abusive words or behaviour, or disorderly conduct.

He was fined £200 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and costs totalling £105.

Miller, of Black Prince Avenue, Market Deeping, was arrested before the end of the first half of the match following the 17th-minute incident which was caught on iFollow’s cameras.

Burns had celebrated in front of the home support, who earlier had berated him while he was on the ground having taken a knock.

According to the Peterborough Telegraph, James Quelch, prosecuting, said in court: “The defendant was captured on video by the Ipswich media team leaving his seat and walking down the steps. He motioned as if to spit towards the player Wes Burns. The incident was reported widely.

“Mr Burns said he did not notice the motion and could not say if any spit landed on him.”

He added: “Spitting is particularly unpleasant behaviour, particularly when directed at someone in the course of their employment.”

The prosecution applied for a three-year football banning order, which was challenged by Miller’s solicitor, Michelle Canagasuriam.

“The banning order is contested,” she said. “He said it was foolish behaviour. He accepts that. He made full and frank admissions. He has no football-related convictions. It is a one-off and out of character.”

A hearing to discuss the banning order is set to take place on Thursday 25th May, also at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.

Peterborough condemned the incident in a statement released during the match: “The football club can confirm that a gentleman was arrested by police following an incident after the first goal scored by Ipswich Town this afternoon.

“There is no place in the game for incidents like that. The club would like to thank the police for swiftly dealing with it.”

Town praised Posh and the police for dealing with the issue quickly: “Peterborough couldn’t have dealt with the matter any better, they dealt with it swiftly, promptly and that’s the end of the matter in terms of the club.

“Obviously we don’t think it’s acceptable that supporters want to spit or get involved with players but we can’t thank Peterborough and the authorities more for how well they dealt with it, and that should be the end of the matter.”

Photo: Matchday Images

wkj added 17:12 - May 12 Good. This kind of behaviour is particularly hard to swallow.
4

joyousblue added 17:14 - May 12 305 quidfor one of the most disgusting habits , ban woukd have been better, if only for a few games
2

Churchman added 17:25 - May 12 So he claims it was a ‘one off'. Yeah, right. I presume he will now have a conviction against his name? I hope so. I can't abide spitting.
2

HighgateBlue added 17:25 - May 12 The fine was less than the Archbishop of Canterbury got the other day for going 25mph in a 20mph zone! (which sounds like a bad joke but is actually true). Will be interesting to see what happens with the contested football banning order.
3

dugoutdave added 17:25 - May 12 joyousblue, read the article. clearly says Hearing to discuss the banning order is set to take place on Thursday 25th May, also at Peterborough Magistrates' Court.
1

runningout added 18:19 - May 12 this person needs to sort his life out and choose a better direction
0

superblues9 added 18:20 - May 12 He needs a ban as well let the Courts chew him up and spit him out
1

azuremerlangus added 18:51 - May 12 The ‘Old Man' moniker is more of an embarrassment than the fine he got.
0

Kickingblock added 18:51 - May 12 45? 😲 He looks and moves like he's 65! 😀
1

joyousblue added 19:32 - May 12 Dugoutblue , pardon lol , i must clearky read the article more clearly write this a hundred times lol
0

itfchorry added 20:43 - May 12 Vile Individual - Hope Peterborough ban him for life, if he escapes a banning order.
2

Cadiar added 20:43 - May 12 Got off lightly, he could have had a Court Order making him go to Carrot Road for a season.
3

Plums added 20:54 - May 12 After everything we supposedly learned about viral transmission during the pandemic, it does seem very lenient.
2

AbujaBlue added 22:27 - May 12 I like the "no football related convictions" part. He must be a hard man to defend.
4

Fat_Boy_Tim added 23:19 - May 12 I have to say, my main emotion is that I'm gutted he's younger than me! I think he's probably had enough punishment now though, we've got his name, age and where he lives plus video of him doing the stupidest thing ever. I also read it as £385 to pay (£80 to Burns, who didn't notice!!). Let's believe that people can change their ways.
1

MickMillsTash added 23:20 - May 12 Bell End He should be banned for 2 years and made an example of. Litter picking on the A1 for 104 Saturdays.
6

blueboy1981 added 23:21 - May 12 Disgusting, Filthy, Dirty thing to do to another Person, which shows no Respect at all to a fellow Human. What an example it sets to Youngsters particularly, with such a paltry Fine ? - he has to be Banned, otherwise it's another British Justice Joke example to others.
3

Generic added 01:31 - May 13 Sounds a very respectable citizen: “Leroy Miller (43), of Black Prince Avenue, Market Deeping. Drink-driving, 123 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, Bourne, November 10, 2019, £276 fine, £34 victim surcharge, £85 costs, 36 months driving disqualification.”
0

Pendejo added 06:28 - May 13 He'll be spitting and when he gets banned and Peterborough promoted. Did PUFC allow him to attend last night?
0

Orraman added 10:51 - May 13 The article states that Peterborough FC reported that “a ‘gentleman' had been arrested. I can think of several alternatives to the word gentleman
1

EricGatesShinpad added 12:56 - May 13 I would have thought a suitable penalty would be to make him attend ever home game in Peterborough - with the woeful pitch, awful facilities, fellow cro magnon supporters and persistently incessant moaning of Ferguson that should be sufficient to make the most hardened moron repent ......
1

Barty added 17:52 - May 13 Horrible scum bag should have been fined a lot more and banned for life from attending any football match
2

SickParrot added 17:54 - May 13 He should be banned from all football matches for at least 5 years. If the court doesn't do it surely Peteborough will ?
2

itfchorry added 19:46 - May 13 I am confident that the Court will not allow this thing to return to any Football Ground for 3 Years - It is important that the Chairman of Peterborough takes a decision to ban him as well -
0

tractorboybig added 13:19 - May 14 shows that magistrates are a not fit for purpose joke
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls