Football fan banned after outburst before Brighton match

A football fan has been banned from going to any games for three years after an abusive outburst before a Brighton and Hove Albion match.

Alvin Plimmer, 30, a plasterer, was arrested outside the American Express Community Stadium in Falmer before Brighton’s Championship play-off defeat at home to Derby last May.

Plimmer was seen by a steward to be acting in a threatening manner towards the driver of a park and ride bus as it arrived at the stadium.

The steward told Plimmer to walk away which he did. But shortly afterwards Plimmer threatened the steward during an abusive outburst.

He continued his tirade towards stewards and officers from Sussex Police and was arrested. Having travelled 200 miles for the match, he never made it into the ground.

Plimmer, of Mandarin Way, in Alvaston, Derby, admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive way when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court last month.

He was banned from attending any football matches for three years, fined £120 and order to pay £82 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge.