Rangers fan, who admitted making racial gestures at Old Firm clash, spared jail

A Rangers fan who admitted making racial gestures at last month’s Old Firm clash has been spared jail.

Paul Kenny, 28, appeared from custody at Glasgow Sheriff Court where he admitted an offence contrary to the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

He admitted the charge of engaging in behaviour that is likely or would be likely to incite public disorder in that he did “shout and make racial gestures”.

Kenny, from Main Street, Girvan, South Ayrshire made the motion at Ibrox Stadium on April 29 after Celtic player Scott Sinclair scored a penalty early in the game.

The court heard when the footballer scored a goal and celebrated on the pitch, Kenny was captured on camera using his arms to mimic a monkey.

Social media helped to identify Kenny who was later arrested by the police.

Yesterday (Tues) sheriff Brian Cameron handed Kenny a community payback order with 100 hours unpaid work and an 18 month football banning order.

Fellow Gers supporter David McLellan also admitted an offence last month under the same Football Act.

The 23-year-old from Lomond Place, Irvine, Ayrshire, ran on to the field, behaved in an aggressive manner and confronted Celtic player Scott Brown.

Sheriff Cameron gave him a similar sentence with 140 hours of unpaid work and an 18 month football banning order.

Procurator fiscal depute Ruth Ross-Davie previously said that six minutes into the game at the Rangers home end Celtic were awarded a penalty.

She said: “They scored the penalty, players started celebrating.

“Players were running around the home support end at which point Mr McLellan ran on to the pitch towards the Celtic player Scott Brown and confronted him on the pitch.

“His approach was aggressive and intimidating. He was held back by other players on the pitch and the referee before making his way back to the track side where he was stopped by stewards.”

Defence lawyer Emma Skett described his actions as the “most idiotic of behaviour”.

She added: “He immediately realised what he had done and stupidity of what he had done.”

A third Rangers fan, Steven Morrison, from Pollok, admitted singing sectarian lyrics of a song at the match that saw Celtic win 5-1 against Rangers.

Morrison, 30, was fined £280 for his conduct.