Three fans of football have been found guilty in court for their involvement in disruptive incidents at Crawley Town FC matches.
Liam Green, aged 18, Benjamin Lanceley, 28, and Yai Prentice, also 18, faced charges related to these events.
Green’s participation in disorder was reported at 3:45 pm on September 30 of the previous year, during a game between Crawley Town and Sutton United.
Lanceley and Prentice were implicated in a separate incident that occurred in Cleveland, during a match between Crawley Town and Hartlepool in April of the same year.
After thorough investigations conducted by the Sussex Police Football Unit, all three individuals have been found guilty. Consequently, they have each been handed a three-year Football Banning Order.
A Football Banning Order is a legal measure that prevents individuals from attending any football matches, as well as from participating in any related celebrations in the surrounding area before or after the game.
Dedicated Football Officer for Crawley Town FC, PC Juliette Swietlik said: “We will not tolerate football crime and related disorder.
“We want football fixtures to be events where families can attend, feel safe and everyone can have an enjoyable time.
“Those who pose a risk to this or use the match and feel good-spirit to commit crime will be put before the courts.”
Chris Baker, Safety Officer Crawley Town FC said “We have a zero-tolerance approach on all forms of anti-social behaviour and this includes any form of abuse.
“We worked closely with Sussex Police to identify and prosecute the individual concerned and we welcome the guilty verdict from the courts.
“The individual will also be subject to an indefinite ban from the Broadfield Stadium.”
Liam Green, 18, Hickling Walk, Crawley appeared before Crawley Magistrates’ Court on November 30 where he admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour, likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, contrary to the Public Order Act.
He was ordered to pay a £26 surcharge and £85 court costs alongside the three-year football banning order.
Benjamin Lanceley, 28 of Wakehurst Drive, Crawley, and Yai Prentice, 18 of Northgate Road, Crawley, also received three-year football banning orders in October 2023 for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour contrary to the Public Order Act during the incident in Cleveland.
