Teens who shouted racist abuse at Dagenham football match banned from game
Two teenagers involved in racist chanting at a group of boys at an anti-racism football match in Dagenham have been banned from attending games for three years.
Keith Meredith, of Holgate Road, Dagenham, and Lee Bates, of Seymer Road, Romford, both 18, appeared at Romford Magistrates Court on October 16.
They were among 25 to 30 youths seen and heard shouting abuse at the Tower Hamlets schoolboys during a Daggers Against Racism game with Bradford FC, held in Victoria Road, Dagenham.
The ringleaders of the disorder, which happened on March 3 this year, were ejected from the stadium by police and club security, but only identified through CCTV and arrested later to avoid disrupting the match.
Meredith was found guilty of a racially aggravated section 5 public order act offence and sentenced to a three-year football banning order, �100 fine and ordered to pay �315 in court costs.
You may also want to watch:
Bates, who admitted a section 5 public order act offence, was sentenced to a three year football banning order, �135 fine and ordered to pay �115 in court costs.
On July 29 two boys, aged 16 and 17, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated public order offences. They both received a four-month referral order to a local youth offending scheme and were ordered to pay �75 each in costs. A further 11 people received varying bans direct from the football club following the chants.
Most Read
- 1 Barking mum: 'Wood falling from truck could have killed me or my kids'
- 2 Man fined £700 after throwing away cigarette outside Barking station
- 3 Barking and Dagenham light festival ends with message of peace
- 4 Watch the moment Dagenham man attacks police officer with sword
- 5 Blood donors needed for Covid study as Barking centre set to open
- 6 Survey asks women where they feel unsafe in Barking and Dagenham
- 7 Images released of man in connection with robbery on train from Barking
- 8 Charity shops open, Covid rules, park toilets and child exploitation
- 9 Covid hospital admissions and deaths in stark decline, NHS trust data shows
- 10 Appeal for help to find boy missing from Dagenham
Steve Thompson, managing director of Daggers, said: “We welcome the sentences given to Lee Bates and Keith Meredith.
“We aim to provide a club facility that caters for families and gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the match without the disruption of intolerance or bigotry.
“The club will continue to do everything in its power to take appropriate action against anyone who chooses to be involved in such abuse.”
