Swindon football fan cleared of racially abusing Ashley Cole at FA Cup match

The charge related to an incident during Swindon Town's FA Cup clash with Manchester City on January 7 last year.

Author: Harry LongPublished 9th Jan 2023

A football fan from Swindon has been found not guilty of racially abusing ITV pundit Ashley Cole during an FA Cup match in January 2022.

25 year-old Lee Oscroft, of Kingshill Road in Swindon - was charged with the racially aggravated harassment of the former England left back.

The charge related to an incident during Swindon Town's FA Cup clash with Manchester City on January 7 last year.

On Monday, he admitted he joined some supporters in shouting abuse at Mr Cole, who was giving punditry on the pitch after the match - but stressed he neither said or heard anything racist.

Oscroft waved his wallet at the player, called him "Cashley Cole" and swore at him, but did but did not racially abuse him, he told the court.

He said he followed Arsenal as well as Swindon and abused the pundit because he had left the north London club to play for their west London rivals Chelsea during his playing career.

The prosecution case relied on evidence, given from behind a screen, by paramedic Katherine Ashby who was at the match and claimed she heard Oscroft shout the racist abuse.

The defence called on two match-goers, who both knew the defendant, who were nearby at the time of the incident and denied hearing Oscroft say anything racist.

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