A football yob who hurled a volley of racist abuse at Man City star Mario Balotelli, including calling him “a monkey” during a Premier League match, has been banned from every ground in the country.
Stoke City fan Terence Jones, 36, shouted ‘monkey’, ‘black b*****d’ and ‘you’re dirty, get a bath’ towards the multi-million pound striker.
Jones repeatedly abused the 22-year-old player for 40 minutes during Stoke City’s 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium on September 15, JPs were told.
North Staffordshire Magistrates’ Court heard that Jones was at the game with his two children and had drank two pints of beer before the game.
On Monday (9/11) Jones, from Meir Hay, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs., admitted engaging in and taking part in chanting of a racist nature.
He was banned from going to any football match in Britain for three years well as being fined #370 and ordered to pay #85 costs.
Sentencing Jones, chair of the bench Sue Allcock told him: “This was a serious offence, especially because you had your children with you and there were other children there at the time.”
Prosecuting, Leanne Jones told the court: “The racial chants started about 15 minutes into the game, he was shouting ‘monkey’ and ‘black b*****d’ believed to be aimed at Mario Balotelli.
“He was also heard shouting ‘where’s your mother?’ – a reference to the footballer being adopted.
“This lasted about 40 minutes until, about five minutes into the second half, the defendant was arrested.”
Jones, who works for Potteries Demolition, had been a season ticket holder at Stoke City for two years, but this has now been seized.
The court heard the dad, who was sitting in the Q-railing Stand, has not been to the Britannia Stadium since the match.
Simon Davies, defending, said: “This offence is out of character.
“Mr Jones has been a season ticket holder for the last two years but prior to that he had been to many games and is even a member of the Potters Foundation Club.
“He had been at the game and had been watching the game when the chanting started around him.
“He accepts he became involved in the chants and he feels totally embarrassed by what he said.
“He is not a man who is racist and wished he had not said what he did, but unfortunately he cannot turn back time.”
Jones refused to comment outside court.
