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 Is the Becontree estate in Barking and Dagenham really a Covid hotspot?
- 2 Town hall backs Dagenham freeport bid
- 3 Hundreds of shops found not complying with Covid rules
- 4 Heritage: How greyhound enthusiast's 1960s betting coup failed
- 5 Dagenham rallies round to make memories for family of 'joyful, little' tot with cancer
- 6 Covid deaths increase at Queen's and King George hospitals this week
- 7 NHS nurse assaulted at east London hospital
- 8 Dagenham fight back to seal win over King's Lynn
- 9 Man recalled to prison after persistent anti-social behaviour in Dagenham cul de sac
- 10 Organisers seek former Mayesbrook teachers to join school reunion
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.”
