Man City fan jailed for £10k damage to police van

Blackett and other football fans damaged the vehicle as they celebrated Man City's 2023 treble-securing victory

A Manchester City fan who leapt on to a police van as he celebrated his team's Champions League victory in 2023 has been jailed.

Leon Blackett, 22, jumped up and down on the vehicle with other jubilant fans in Manchester city centre on 10 June, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

City had just beaten Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul to secure the treble of Champions League, FA Cup and Premier League trophies.

Blackett, of Didsbury, pleaded guilty to a football-related disorder offence after he caused more than £10,000 worth of damage to the police van, and was jailed for three months.

He was also sentenced separately to three years and five months for possession of a a bladed article and a domestic-related communications offence, a GMP spokeswoman said

Blackett was also handed a seven-year football banning order.

'Unacceptable'

The court heard the city centre saw a "large influx of fans in high spirits" after the Champions League Final win.

The gathering escalated as Blackett and several others scaled the van, jumped on it and caused more than £10,000 worth of damage, which led to the vehicle being written off.

Detectives used CCTV and social media footage to track down those responsible, which led to Blackett's arrest on 19 October 2023.

PC Matt Ford of GMP said Blackett's actions were "completely unacceptable"

"This is a timely reminder to those who commit crimes while following the football in another country, we will seek prosecutions for unacceptable behaviour," he added.