Licensee fined over display of abusive football scarf
A licensee has been fined £400 plus £180 in costs after police confiscated an abusive football scarf displayed in her bar.
Yvonne Mann, who runs the Adelphi, in Shakespeare Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was taken to court over the souvenir which read: "Sunderland are shite".
The 42-year-old Newcastle United supporter told Newcastle Magistrates that the scarf had been left by fellow fans and had only been displayed as a joke.
She also said she would have removed it if the police had given her the chance.
The Adelphi is only a five-minute walk from St James Park football ground and is popular with football fans.
Simon Worthy, prosecuting, claimed the Adelphi was known to police as a pub that was occasionally frequented by unruly Newcastle football fans.
But Mrs Mann said: "We've never had any trouble in this bar. The Sunderland manager Peter Reid has been in here before. Even the Sunderland lads that come in offered to be witnesses. They said it didn't offend them.
"The scarf was just something that one of the lads brought in. It was just a bit of fun.
"It wasn't meant to upset anyone. We have never had any complaints, none whatsoever."
But magistrates found her guilty of using threatening, abusive and insulting words and said that some customers may have been offended.
Pictured: Newcastle fans vent their feelings towards rivals Sunderland
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Newcastle licensee facing court appearance over football scarf (30 May 2002)
