Sectarian taunts almost caused riot

Feb 13 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A TEENAGE St Johnstone fan who taunted Rangers supporters will learn his fate at Perth Sheriff Court next month.

Psychological reports will be compiled on Aaron Muteithia (17) after he admitted directing an inflammatory tirade towards the Glasgow side’s followers at last month’s Scottish Cup clash between the sides at McDiarmid Park.

Muteithia also pled guilty to a string of separate offences, including the theft of jewellery worth over £2200 from his own mother.

The court heard he and his co-accused Ray Stevenson, a student, almost sparked a riot at the live televised game by running towards opposition fans hurling sectarian abuse.

Fiscal depute Therese Oswald said the pair had been drinking heavily prior to causing bother at the midweek fixture.

“From the beginning, a group of St Johnstone supporters in the north end of the East Stand attracted the attention of the police because of their vocal conduct,” she said.

“At 9.45pm, towards the end of the game, the police were aware of both accused men running from the lower tier of the East Stand onto the trackside.

“They ran towards the Rangers supporters repeatedly shouting, “You dirty Orange b*******”, and “Come on, f*** you”, while repeatedly gesticulating with fingers and hands as if challenging the Rangers supporters to fight.

“Further officers came along and both men were arrested.”

Both men pleaded guilty to conducting themselves in a disorderly manner and conducting a breach of the peace at McDiarmid Park on January 13.

Muteithia, of Greenbank Road, Glenfarg, also admitted stealing a quantity of jewellery at his own address last October 30, and failing to pay for a taxi from Perth Royal Infirmary to his home the following day.

Ms Oswald said his mother had left a variety of gold items including bracelets and rings in a jewellery box inside her bedroom.

However, when she returned from work on October 31 at 6.30pm she found her bed had been slept in and her jewellery was missing.

When police tracked Muteithia down, he admitted selling the valuables to “someone he didn’t know”, for just £120.

Earlier the same day, at 5.30am, a taxi driver took Muteithia and another male from PRI to Glenfarg, but the teenager told him he was unable to pay the £23 fare, before exiting the cab.

When he failed to reappear as promised, the driver knocked at his house door but failed to get an answer, so he called the police.

Separately, Muteithia admitted that last October 19 in Canal Street he resisted, obstructed, molested and hindered two police constables in the execution of their duty, lashed out with his arms, struggled violently and resisted arrest.

His solicitor, David Holmes, told the court his client spent November 3-20 in custody following his “immature behaviour”.

“He had needed money to pay off a gambling debt and had been pressed for it.”

Mr Holmes said Muteithia’s hopes of joining the army had been dashed by a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Meanwhile, Stevenson’s solicitor William Somerville said his actions had been entirely down to drink after falling out with his girlfriend.

“He has no interest in whether St Johnstone win, lose or draw,” said the agent.

“He was unaware that the words he shouted contained an element of religious prejudice, but now he does.”

Sheriff Michael Fletcher ordered Stevenson (19), of Nimmo Avenue, Perth, to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Describing Muteithia’s circumstances as “complicated”, the sheriff told him to return to court on March 25.