A FOOTBALL fan has been fined £4000 for verbally abusing police in Ayr and carrying a knife.

Stephen McInness, of Coatbridge Road, Coatbridge, hurled obscenities at police officers on his way to a Ayr United vs Airdrieonians game on April 30, 2016.

The 49-year-old appeared before Sheriff Leslie at Ayr Sheriff Court last week.

The court heard that McInness met up with friends who were going to the football match and the group were heard to be chanting and deviated from the direct route of Somerset Park where the match was taking place.

Procurator Fiscal, Mr McLean, said: “At 2pm on Saturday, April 30, the police were patrolling the pubs in Ayr because of the football match between Ayr United and Airdrie at Somerset Park.

“The police went to the Campbeltown Bar on Main Street and at 2.35pm the group that Mr McInness was with, left there to go in the direction of Crown Street.

“The police then activated their personal camera when they heard the group chanting.

“The group then walked towards the Horse Shoe Bar and the police went to stop them.

“The accused went towards the police being verbally abusive saying “who do you think you are” and “f**k off and get to f**k”. 

"The accused was then arrested.”

McInness was taken to the police station and the police went to carry out a body search.

Mr McLean continued: “When the police asked if the accused had anything sharp on his person, he admitted to having a black handled knife in his top jacket pocket.

“It was left in his jacket pocket as he works offshore and he forgot it was there.

“The police confirmed that the knife was found in a closed position.”

Speaking on his clients behalf, defence solicitor, Mr Gillies, said: “Mr McInness told the police straight away that the knife was there and he was inconsolable. 

"The police confirmed that he broke down and did not realise it was there as he works three weeks on and three weeks off.

“He was extremely upset that the knife was there.

“He is a 49-year-old electrical technician who works offshore and he has not kept well, worrying about this.

“He was drunk, however, he is not someone who ordinarily drinks and he immediately told the police the knife was in his pocket.

“He knows this is extremely serious.

“The social work report is a positive report and Mr McInness is a man with a very limited record and he is a hard working man.”

Mr Gillies added: “I hope that you will treat this as a non custodial matter as he only went to the football game because he met his friends and he is not someone who usually follows football.”

Sheriff Leslie issued McInness to pay a hefty fine of £4000 over a period of one year along with a three year ban from attending football matches. 
The court also forfeited the knife.

Sheriff Leslie said: “This is disgraceful behaviour from a man of your maturity and embarrassing to you maybe.

“This is a serious threat to security and this type of threat can bring a custodial sentence.

 “Fortunately, the police put in their statement that the knife was close to your person.”