A person who fell from the higher tier of a stand throughout a soccer match and injured followers under has been discovered not responsible of assault.
Maidstone United supporter John Ryan fell on to Joanne Peters and her companion Aaron Rose at Ipswich City’s Portman Highway floor throughout an FA Cup conflict in January 2024.
Ryan, 62, of Railway Avenue, Chatham, Kent, denied one rely of assault by beating and one rely of precise bodily hurt and advised Ipswich Crown Courtroom he had been unable to cease himself throughout aim celebrations.
Ryan could possibly be seen crying within the dock because the jury returned verdicts of not responsible to each expenses and mentioned afterwards “it has been very annoying”.
Peters had been in tears when she advised the court docket she initially thought the supporters’ field behind her had collapsed and she thought she “might have died”.
Ryan had been one among hundreds of Maidstone United supporters who noticed their non-league aspect win 2-1 over Ipswich, who had been heading to promotion from the Championship that season.
He advised the court docket the sport had been “the most important match within the membership’s historical past” and he had been celebrating a “particular” aim.
The jury was advised he had been in Cobbold Stand higher tier when he fell, slid down the sloping roof that covers the containers, and landed on the Ipswich supporters under.
Ryan advised the jury he had been not sure if he had been pushed or his foot had slipped when he fell.
