Coin throwing fan's sentence quashed

Coins were thrown during the bad tempered game

A man convicted of throwing coins during an Old Firm game in which referee Hugh Dallas suffered a head wound has had his prison sentence quashed.

Paul Hodge, 39, from Coventry, was sentenced to three months in jail last year after he admitted throwing coins during the 1999 league decider at Celtic Park.

But the sentence was quashed after appeal judges in Edinburgh accepted that there was no certainty one of the coins thrown by Hodge had struck the referee.

Lord Sutherland and Lord Nimmo Smith released Hodge, of Denibigh Road, Coventry, on bail and ordered him to carry out 240 hours' community service instead.

Hugh Dallas needed stitches for a head wound

Trouble erupted at Celtic Park after Hugh Dallas awarded Rangers a penalty in a match they needed to win to secure the league championship.

Several Celtic fans invaded the field of play and others threw coins onto the pitch. One of these struck the referee and he required medical treatment for a bleeding head wound.

The referee's home was also vandalised several hours later.

Rangers went on to win the game 3-0 and secured their first championship under Dick Advocaat at the home of their rivals.

In the subsequent investigation, police identified Hodge in closed-circuit television camera pictures as throwing coins from his seat in the West Stand.

He was arrested in December 1999 at Gatwick Airport after returning from holiday and was flown to Glasgow under police escort to make his first court appearance.

Reduced charge

Hodge originally faced a charge of striking Mr Dallas with a coin.

But the Crown decided not to pursue that particular charge and he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of throwing coins in the direction of the pitch and placing the people on it in a state of fear and alarm.

Sheriff Brian Convery told Hodge that a three month jail term would send out a message to those wanting to cause trouble at Celtic-Rangers matches.

He was subsequently released on bail pending a challenge against the sentence.

I would like to apologise to Celtic Football Club and to the Scottish taxpayer

Paul Hodge

But that sentence was quashed on appeal after lords Sutherland and Nimmo Smith said there was no certainty his coin had struck Hugh Dallas.

Celtic FC imposed a life ban on Hodge from attending matches after he admitted throwing coins during the infamous league decider.

Speaking after the appeal, Hodge said: "I will never forget the day. I made a mistake and I have paid a severe penalty, but at the end of the day I had faith in Scottish justice. I have now been dealt with in an appropriate way.

"I would like to apologise to Celtic Football Club and to the Scottish taxpayer."

The judges heard that a petition, signed by 100 people, had been presented testifying to Hodge's good character.

His local Labour MP and president of English Premier club Coventry City, Geoffrey Robinson, had sent a letter in support of him.