SMITH: FOOTBALL FAN ACCUSED OF THROWING GLASS AT POLICE SAYS HE WAS SERVED BEER IN PLASTIC CUPS

A Portsmouth fan today (weds) denied hurling a pint glass in a police officer’s face and claimed he had only been served beer in plastic cups.

Father-of-two Brian Smith, 50, allegedly threw the tumbler at acting police sergeant Damian Hill after Pompey’s 1-0 FA Cup final defeat at the hands of Chelsea at Wembley last year.

Smith is also said to have chucked a bottle at police dog ‘Texas’ which shattered and caused cuts to the animal’s paws during the incident on May 15.

Jurors have heard how ugly scenes flared between police and Portsmouth FC after police moved in to stop violence erupting between Pompey and Chelsea FC fans, who were drinking at a nearby pub.

Smith was seen by officers to step from the melee to hurl a glass bottle towards Texas before throwing a glass at Pol Sgt Hill moments later.
 
Giving evidence Smith claimed he had been stood talking with friends outside The Perseverance, in Shroton Street, Marylebone when he was hit over the head by a police officer.

He said he then fell to the ground as dozens of fans rushed past him.

Smith told Southwark Crown Court he went inside to buy drinks for himself and six others and taken them outside.

He told jurors the drinks had been served in ‘squidgy’ plastic pint glasses.

He said: ‘The next thing I was aware of I was having a chat with a couple of people and then there was just a rush of people coming past me.

‘I was knocked and I stumbled.

‘I can remember seeing the pavement just two or three feet away from my face.

‘The next thing I knew was just a massive pain, a really sharp pain to my head, and then everything just going blank.’

Smith was asked by his barrister Brian Kennedy: ‘Before being struck on the head had you thrown a glass bottle at a police dog handler’s dog?’

He replied: ‘No.’

Mr Kennedy asked: ‘Had you had access to a glass at all at The Perseverance?’

He answered: ‘No, not at all. My recollection is there were only plastic cups there.

Mr Kennedy asked: ‘Before being hit by the police officer did you throw or thrust a glass into a police officer’s face?’

‘No,’ came the reply.

Charles Evans, prosecuting, has told jurors how Smith threw a glass bottle at the feet of PC Gavin Cerasale’s dog Texas.

‘As a result Texas trod on the glass and injured the pads of his feet.

‘PC Cerasale then saw the defendant step forward and throw a glass directly at the head of pol sgt Hill.

‘He then described seeing blood coming from a deep laceration below Pol Sgt Hill’s eye.’
 
A second man, Marvin Hill, 19, is said to have been seen shouting ‘Come on’ and ‘Get rid of your dog and I will take you on’ during the incident.
 
The trial was halted yesterday afternooon when a juror retunred home during the lunch hour to deal with an ‘urgent’ matter related to the rioting in London.

Smith, of (320) Chatsworth Avenue, Portsmouth, denies wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and damaging property.
 
Hill, of (43) Thorncroft Road, Portsmouth, denies one count of affray.
 
The trial continues.

ENDS