Football Fan Admits Throwing Himself Off Stand After Drinking

A 62-year-old football fan admitted to consuming five cans of lager before launching himself from the upper tier of a stadium stand, an act that resulted in a woman sustaining injuries. The incident occurred in January 2024 at Portman Road, Ipswich's home ground, during an FA Cup match between Ipswich Town and Maidstone United.

John Ryan, the supporter in question, denies two counts of assault by beating and one count of actual bodily harm. Ipswich Crown Court heard on Monday that Ryan was among over 4,000 traveling Maidstone fans. The match kicked off at 12:30 p.m.

Prosecutor Simon Gladwell presented CCTV and social media footage to the court, which appeared to show Ryan rolling onto the roof of a lower stand before falling into the crowd below. Ryan's defense contended that the wall was so low he could not stop himself and that he was unsure if he had been pushed. The prosecution argued that Ryan "deliberately" rolled onto the roof and "effectively threw himself" towards the spectators, stating that he was at least reckless regarding the potential for causing injury.

Ryan landed on Joanne Peters, who suffered internal bruising and a trapped nerve. Her partner, Aaron Ruse, reported experiencing soreness and stiffness as a result of the incident. The trial is ongoing.