Old Firm coin thrower jailed

Players gather round the referee after he was struck

A man who threw coins at the Old Firm game in which the referee Hugh Dallas suffered a head wound has been jailed for three months.

Paul Hodge's solicitor is planning to appeal against the sentence imposed at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Hodge, 38, threw coins from his seat in Parkhead's West Stand during the league decided in May 1999.

Hodge, from Coventry, originally faced a charge of striking Hugh Dallas with a coin.

But the Crown decided not to pursue that particular charge and Hodge pleaded guilty at an earlier appearance 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.

This is a just man who doesn't deserve to go to jail

Solicitor Gary McAteer

Celtic lost the game 3-0, failed to win the league title. Manager Josef Venglos was subsequently ousted in favour of John Barnes.

During the match, Celtic had Vidar Riseth sent off and fans ran on the pitch to try to assault the referee, whose home was vandalised after the game.

Dallas needed stitches in his head wound and Hodge was later identified in closed-circuit television camera pictures.

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

'Few moments' stupidity'

Solicitor Gary McAteer said Hodge had split up with a long-term girlfriend, received hate mail and was knocked back from a job promotion.

But "worst of all" he has received a life ban from watching his beloved Celtic play.

"This is a just man who doesn't deserve to go to jail," Mr McAteer added. "He has been punished enough for a few moments' stupidity."

But Sheriff Brian Convery told Hodge that a message had to be "sent out" to those wanting to cause trouble at Celtic-Rangers matches.

He said: "You went along to an old firm match and caused trouble in what was already an inflamed atmosphere.

"People must realise that this attitude cannot be tolerated by this and other courts."

Hodge sobbed as he was led away to begin his sentence.