Football fan given match ban after being caught with cocaine at the Stadium of Light
An Arsenal football fan has scored an own goal by being banned from matches for three years after being caught with cocaine at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light ground.
Daniel Martin, 29, was searched by police as he tried to enter the arena ahead of the 5.30pm Premier League kick off on Saturday, November 8.
The Wales and Arsenal season ticket holder, of Somerfield Road, Brownswood Park, north London, was found with a small amount of the class A substance in a plastic bag in a pocket.
He was charged with drug possession and pleaded guilty when he appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, December 11.
At that hearing, the postman, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay court costs and a victim surcharge.
Northumbria Police then issued a football banning order application, to prohibit him from all regulated football matches in the UK.
Martin appeared at the same court via video link from his home to oppose the police’s banning bid on Monday, March 9.
Prosecutor Stephen Davies said the ban would also mean Martin may have to report to a police station five days before some matches and possibly surrender his passport.
Mr Davies added: “Mr Martin attended Arsenal’s game against Sunderland in November last year.
“He attended the ground and was stopped and searched and a small plastic bag in his pocket was found to contain cocaine.”
Martin told magistrates he had been watching Arsenal games from childhood and had held a season ticket for two years and one for Wales since he was 15.
When asked about the drug offence, he said: “It was just an honest mistake. I completely forgot that I had it from the night before.
“I would never intentionally take drugs into a football ground. I’ve never done it before and would never do it again.”
Magistrates granted the police application and told Martin he would be banned from all regulated games in the UK for three years.
They also added associated terms including that of possible passport surrender when certain matches are being played outside the UK.
Kenneth Wilson, chair of the bench, told Martin the order was being imposed to “prevent violence”.