Football fan fined for violent threats to rivals

The court was told Peter Rice posted the message while he was drunk

A man who posted a message on social media threatening "blood shed" against Leeds United fans has been fined.

Peter Rice posted on X, hours before a match between Huddersfield Town and Leeds United on 2 March, Kirklees Magistrates' Court heard.

His tweet made reference to "petrol bombs" and stated there were "bats and bars stashed in bushes" outside the Huddersfield stadium to "hurt" Leeds fans.

Rice, 41, was found guilty of sending communication threatening death or serious harm, and was ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling £1,490.

'Drunken tweet'

The court was told Rice had been drinking when he posted the message in response to a tweet put out by Huddersfield Town ahead of the clash, stating there had been reports of anti-social behaviour at recent games.

Part of his message read: "2 late! Petrol bombs! Darts! Few bats and bars stashed in bushes outside ground... it's guna be a war zone."

It added: "Best get some hospital choppers on stand by. There's guna be some blood shed."

Prosecuting, Robert Campbell said the tweet was reported to police by someone who had seen it online.

The court was told the match that day had been "categorised as high risk" by police due to intelligence and large-scale disorder, which had occurred when the teams played in November.

Mr Campbell said: "The post was not just a general 'there's going to be some trouble tomorrow', but it made specific and detailed threats about the use of weapons. He wanted people to have that fear."

Giving evidence, Rice, of Warneford Road in Huddersfield, described his actions as "just a drunken, humoured tweet" and that he "never intended anyone to be in fear".

The bricklayer said he did not attend Huddersfield Town games any more and that he "wasn't thinking" when he posted the message.

Defending, Olivia Fraser said Rice's post was "out of character" and that he did not drink or engage with Huddersfield Town any more.

"For reasons unknown to him, he did these things that day and he simply wasn't thinking," she said.

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