A dopey Hibs fan who ran on the pitch to celebrate his team scoring a goal then tripped over a barrier as he attempted to evade arrest has been banned from attending matches for three years.
Sam Rutter jumped onto the playing surface in delight after Hibs striker Martin Boyle had fired his team into an early lead in the Edinburgh derby match against bitter rivals Hearts on 26 April this year.
Rutter, 22, celebrated in front of the away supporters before attempting to hurdle a barrier and make his way back into the home section of the Pat Stanton Stand at Easter Road Stadium.
But after struggling with a police officer Rutter, of Gilmerton, tripped and landed awkwardly on the concourse allowing the constable to grab him and take him into custody.
Mobile phone footage of the incident showing Rutter on the pitch while wearing a distinctive red jacket was later posted on social media.
He was arrested and charged and appeared at the capital’s sheriff court last month where he admitted to committing a breach of the peace by conducting himself in a disorderly manner by entering the field of play.
Rutter was back in the dock for sentencing on Monday where his lawyer Joseph Boyd said Rutter’s “initial reaction was to evade capture” but after slipping he “did not resist” being taken into custody.
Mr Boyd said: “This was a regulated football match between Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian at Easter Road and was live on the television.
“He had been drinking beforehand and essentially got caught up in the elation of the moment.
“I understand he was not on the field of play for particularly long. He then came to the realisation of what he had done.
“He did attempt to exit the field of play and while approaching the stand he tried to climb over the advertising board but he slipped as he did that.”
The lawyer added his client’s behaviour was “stupid and he has no real excuse for this” but there had been “no intention to provoke any reaction from the visiting support”.
Sheriff Matt Jackson KC told the restaurant chef he had chosen “to leave your seat in the stand, jump over railings and get on to the pitch” but accepted he was not part of any organised hooligan group.
The sheriff sentenced Rutter to pay a fine of £1,000 and issued him with a football banning order that prohibits him from attending any regulated match in the UK for the next three years backdated to May 19 this year.
Despite Martin Boyle’s seventh minute opener, Hearts eventually won the match 2-1 with a 66th minute own goal from Warren O’Hora and substitute Blair Spitall hitting a late 86th minute winner.
The home team had goalkeeper Raphael Salinger and full back Felix Passlack sent off during the match in front of a crowd of 19,502.
