Tragedy-chanting fan who mocked killed Leeds supporters avoids football ban
A football fan who who made sick gestures during a tribute to killed Leeds fans Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus has been spared a ban.
Swansea City fan Aaron Livingstone repeatedly ran his finger across his throat during a minute’s applause at Elland Road last year.
The tribute was to mark the 25th anniversary since Mr Speight and Mr Loftus were stabbed to death in Turkey prior to The Whites’ UEFA Cup clash with Galatasaray.
Livingstone, 21, denied a public-order offence but was found guilty after a short trial at Leeds Magistrates’ Court.
He was fined, but during an appeal hearing at Leeds Crown Court, a proposed football banning order was rejected.
After hearing the case, and following deliberation with a sitting magistrate, Judge Tahir Khan KC ruled: “There’s no doubt the defendant would have understood that this was an important event when making the throat gestures.
“It’s clear he is passionate about football.
“We are satisfied that given his evidence and his age, and his lack of previous convictions, to impose a football banning order would not be proportionate.”
The court had heard that Leeds United had been playing Swansea City on March 29 last year.
Wreaths were laid by the teams’ captains and a minute’s applause held before the match, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
The game was also paused on 25 minutes for another minute’s applause.
Livingstone, of Catsbrook Road, Luton, was then seen making the slicing-throat gestures several times. He was caught on CCTV and ejected from the ground.
Representing the Crown, Nathan Davies told the appeal hearing that it was clearly “tragedy chanting” - mocking opposing fans for off-field tragedies and fatalities.
He said it would have been “obvious” to away fans of the impact his gestures would have had on the Leeds fans.
During his police interview, Livingstone denied it was directed towards the Leeds fans, claiming it was to his own fans because Swansea were losing at the time.
His story was not believed at trial.
Mitigating on Livingstone’s behalf, Tom Cawan said that a football banning order would impact on his work life.
He pointed out that neither Leeds United nor Swansea City had banned Livingstone from their grounds.
He said a banning order would be “disproportionate and not practical”.
Despite agreeing, Judge Khan warned Livingstone: “Mind how you go. You may not be so fortunate in future.”