A football fan that was banned from going to matches abroad and went to the Ukraine to watch England during Euro 2012 will spend five months in jail. Pele Duncan, a Manchester United supporter, told police that he wanted to visit his girlfriend’s father in Germany who was seriously ill so that he could get his passport back.
However the 26-year-old supporter was photographed in Kiev where he was partying with other England fans during the Championships, then in the Olympic Stadium where England played Kiev.
Duncan, who lives near Preston, earlier admitted failing to obey his order from June15-25 and to not handing his passport in before August 8. He said that he went to the Ukraine after having an argument in Germany with his girlfriend’s mother. He later admitted that his defence was a complete lie, at Preston Magistrate’s Court, and there had been no family sickness.
James Towey, defending, said Mr Duncan’s friends had travelled to the tournament and he was jealous. In his defence he said that Duncan should be credited for the fact he told the truth eventually. The original story was told when he was originally arrested; it was not supposed to be heard outside the police station. Mr Towey said that Duncan was simply envious of his friends.
The father-of-one was first handed the order in November 2010 following his eviction from Old Trafford when he was seen drinking alcohol near the pitch. Under the terms of the order he has to surrender his passport to officials when England or Manchester United play a match abroad.
Magistrate Barbara Bennett, when sentencing Duncan to a total of five months in prison, said that he had blatantly disregarded the court orders. She continued by saying that it had been planned in advance.