Football fan admits punching police horse

Barry Rogerson, 45, was charged after trouble flared when Newcastle United lost 3-0 at home to Sunderland in April.

Rogerson, wearing a dark suit, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court for a brief hearing where he appeared in the dock with five others who also admitted violent disorder.

Rogerson, of Hartlands, Bedlington, Northumberland, previously denied the offence.

He was photographed with a scarf over his face punching Bud as Newcastle fans turned on officers, having been unable to get to jubilant Sunderland supporters outside the ground.

Robert Adams, defending, asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared before he is dealt with next month.

The details of the case were not opened on Thursday.

Well-wishers sent Bud gifts, including Polo mints, to his stables. The horse suffered no ill-effects from the attack, the force said at the time.

Rogerson and the others were granted conditional bail, including that they stay away from Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and England games.

Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said there will be applications for football banning orders.

Rogerson will be sentenced on October 24.

Judge James Goss, the Recorder of Newcastle, warned Rogerson and the others that they would be jailed.

“As each of you know, this is a serious offence to which you have pleaded guilty,” he told the defendants.

“The court will have all sentencing options, including of course immediate imprisonment, open to it at the sentencing hearing. Please don’t think anything other than imprisonment is going to be passed for this offence.”