Celtic fan who invaded pitch with toddler spared jail

A Celtic fan who invaded the pitch with a two-year-old boy to celebrate a goal against Rangers has been spared jail.

32-year old Anthony Smith went onto the field when striker Odsonne Edouard scored a goal in the 2-1 derby win at Parkhead in March this year.

He pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to committing a breach of the peace.

Smith was ordered to do 225 hours of unpaid work by Sheriff Valerie Mays and banned from UK football matches for three years.

Sheriff Mays said: "The nature of your conduct could have caused significant trouble at an Old Firm match and there was lack of concern for the child.

"The court cannot tolerate that behaviour at football matches.

"I can deal with this as an alternative to a custodial sentence, just."

The court heard Smith leapt over an advertising board with the child in his arms to join fans on the pitch.

Prosecutor Graham Macdonald said: "He waved his arms around and took photos.

"He took a selfie with himself and the child."

Lawyer, Gary Miller, defending told the court that Smith was on the pitch for a minute with "40 to 50 fans".

He added: "Mr Smith accepts it was a stupid thing to do and attracted negative media at the time.

"It wasn’t the wisest move to take a two-year-old to a derby match.

"This is something he intends to learn from and is something he will never do in future."

Smith, from Glasgow’s Parkhead area, was acquitted of a charge of causing the child unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

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