Ban for teen who took drum from woman at Rangers game

The incident sparked crowd trouble, with Rangers fans' group the Union Bears clashing with police

A teenager who robbed a drum from a St Johnstone employee before a Rangers game has been banned from football matches for 21 months.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, assaulted Saints supporters' liaison officer Beverly Mayer outside Hampden on 17 August last year.

He previously pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assault and robbery.

The boy was due to be sentenced last month but failed to do his social work background report and was warned that he could face prison.

As well as the football ban, Sheriff Mark McGuire sentenced the teenager to 108 hours of unpaid work.

The teenager, of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, was also put under supervision for a period of 12 months.

Rangers, who were playing at the national stadium due to renovation work at Ibrox, banned four supporters indefinitely following the incident.

Court papers state that the boy - while acting with another person wearing a face covering - ran towards Miss Mayer and seized hold of a drum she was carrying.

The charge says that the boy dragged her by the drum which caused her to fall and strike her head on the ground.

The papers go on to state that the teenager then robbed Miss Mayer of the drum.

He also pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

The charge says that the teenager was part of a disorderly crowd and repeatedly shouted, swore and challenged others to fight.

Papers further state he uttered offensive remarks and threats of violence.

The Crown accepted a plea of not guilty to a charge that said the boy resisted, obstructed or hindered two police officers in the execution of their duty.

It was said he ran away from constables Colin McCartney and Jonathan Fairlie and struggled with them.

Last November Rangers fan Arran Watt, 22, was banned from football matches for two years over the same incident.