Dad's ban for match race hate chanting
A FATHER-OF-FIVE has been banned from watching football for three years after hurling racist abuse at a black player during the Swans match against Reading 10 days ago.
An off-duty police officer seated near him at Swansea's Liberty Stadium warned Andrew Passmore about his behaviour.
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Andrew Passmore.
After receiving a foul-mouthed response, the officer alerted colleagues policing the January 17 match.
Passmore was arrested and came before city magistrates to admit having engaged in racist chanting.
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He has been banned from attending football matches for three years and told not to go within 1,500 metres of the Liberty Stadium on match days.
The 31-year-old engineer had been seated near an off-duty detective sergeant in a stand at the stadium when a Reading player was issued with a yellow card.
He began chanting: "You black b*****d" and was joined in doing so by children in his company, said prosecutor Andrew Fouracre.
That lasted for about 30 seconds and he then shouted two further insults which were both racist and obscene.
The police sergeant, who was attending the match with his son, spoke to him about his behaviour and told him to stop.
Passmore was abusive towards him, telling him to "f*** off."
The officer informed colleagues of what he had seen and heard and Passmore was detained. He asked arresting officers: "Have you got CCTV of me doing it?"
He was later to admit the offence and apologise for his behaviour.
Passmore, of St Elmo Avenue, St Thomas, was said by his solicitor, Giles Hayes, to attend football matches infrequently.
"He accepts that he can't use words like that in a public place," he said.
"He is deeply sorry for his behaviour and apologises for any offence caused to anyone in the vicinity at the time the offence occurred."
Mr Hayes said Passmore had been drinking alcohol since mid-morning ahead of the Saturday afternoon match.
"He accepts his behaviour was socially unacceptable," he said.
The magistrates ordered Passmore to pay a £250 fine along with £85 in costs and victim surcharge.
They imposed a football banning order prohibiting him from going to any football match for the next three years and barring him from going within 1,500 metres of the Liberty Stadium on match days during the period of five hours before kick-off and five hours after the final whistle.
Comments
by HR.Jones, Swansea
Thursday, January 29 2009, 12:37PM
“**Davies Swansea**
screaming at someone and calling them a "Black B*****" is a whole universe away from "shouting a bit" at a football match after a few beers...If you can't tell the difference your a bigger idiot than this Passmore creature”
by Ginger smith, St thomas
Thursday, January 29 2009, 10:30AM
“Its frightening to think he lives so close to me. I will have to make sure my door is bolted at night. What a hooligan makes the good people in st thomas look bad!”
by Davies, Swansea
Thursday, January 29 2009, 9:12AM
“Lets put things in perspective here,the guy had a few too many beers,and shouted a bit,big deal,some of the comments on here are way over the top.”
by Jo, Cardiff
Wednesday, January 28 2009, 9:15PM
“Can i just say after reading all the above comments that i think there is alot of sad people out there!!!! Stop saying you feel bad about his children its pathetic your already writing them off in society. Also "PC "im sorry PC has gone so far out of the window in this country. We all need to take note that we all judge people by what we read in Newspapers and on TV how narrow minded are you to believe in what is written about this guy and his children, and how he is as father should not be a question for you to ansa, there is also respectively mothers bringing these children up!!!!!.”
by Hywel dda, Cymru
Wednesday, January 28 2009, 9:01PM
“K, Kaniff @ Swansea.........
People have been calling
the Welsh B . . . . . . 's, for
over 2 thousand year's since
the Roman's arrived here !”
by pooley, swansea
Wednesday, January 28 2009, 8:37PM
“I worked with a lad who shared the same surname a good hard working lad without a racist bone in his body he was also an ardent swansea supporter. Lets hope that all passmores are tard with the same brush!”
by Alan Bellamy and Tribe, Day release - Cefn Coed
Wednesday, January 28 2009, 8:12PM
“Andy you really let me down. Out of my 8 kids mohamed is very upset and has stopped going to football matches. Im going to delete you from my facebook. Hope you wise up and go to rugby insead”
by tomos richards, ammanford
Wednesday, January 28 2009, 7:43PM
“this kind of racist stuff is endemic down at swansea city. one needs only to read the message boards for the weekly updates about complaints about racist chanting or abuse. its clear that social deprivation and a failure to appreciate the value that migrants are bringing to our childrens schools, our hospitals, and our social housing that is to blame. we will not get rid of racism in swansea until swansea is fully taken over by them!”
by ND, Reading
Wednesday, January 28 2009, 6:15PM
“So Swansea Jack in Townhill calls this a bit of banter! What planet are you on pal? If thats your attitude towards watching the swans dont bother - the club doesnt need idiots like you in the ground. Our younger generation certainly dont want to grow up with your attitude and Passmores example. No wonder some children show a lack of respect to older people.Hope youre not thinking of travelling to Southampton for a 'bit of banter '”
by Mike, Swansea
Wednesday, January 28 2009, 5:40PM
“There should not be a discussion about this man - he is simply retarded and should be treated as such.”