Fans stole penalty spots

The thieves said Millmoor was their nearest ground

Two football fans who stole the penalty spots from a rival club so they could have a shoot out in their own back gardens, have been fined.

Leeds United supporter John Nunns and a 17-year-old Sheffield United fan climbed over the wall at Rotherham United's Millmoor ground with a spade and dug up the turf.

Rotherham magistrates were told they put the spots in plastic bags and then took them home to plant in their back lawns.

But rival Millers fans tipped off police and they were arrested before they could lay the turf.

It was just a prank, I didn't realise how much damage was caused

name here

Nunns, 24, and the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were ordered to pay a total of £650 compensation to the club.

After the hearing the pair said they got the idea after watching a similar prank in the low budget movie "Purely Belter".

Nunns, of Malby, Rotherham, said: "It was just a prank. I didn't realise how much damage was caused.

"The club got their penalty spots back so I don't know what all the fuss is about."

Exclusion order

The teenager said: "It wasn't done against Rotherham. It was just the nearest ground."

A groundsman discovered both penalty spots, which cost £615 to replace, had been dug up and removed on Boxing Day.

Prosecutor Martin Ward said Rotherham had issued an exclusion order against the pair.

Neither was represented in court.

Nunns was fined £100 and ordered to pay £307.50 compensation while his accomplice was given a three-month referral order and also told to pay £307.50 compensation.