Sittingbourne man accused of shouting abuse and carrying cocaine at Gillingham FC match at Priestfield Stadium
Published: 16:03, 03 November 2023
A spectator at a football match has been charged after he reportedly shouted abuse at police and was found carrying cocaine.
At around 4pm on Saturday (October 28), while responding to a separate incident at Gillingham FC’s Priestfield Stadium, a man was cautioned for his behaviour.
It is alleged he became confrontational and verbally abused police.
He was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. He was then searched and a small quantity of cocaine was seized.
Jake Harling, of Blenheim Road, Sittingbourne, was later charged with possessing cocaine, being drunk and disorderly in a public place, being drunk in a sports ground, possessing a prohibited substance on entering a sporting event and a public order offence.
The 18-year-old is due to appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, December 6.
It comes after the football club banned two more supporters following an incident during the Gillingham FC and Newport Newport County match.
They first issued a lifetime ban to one spectator following racist abuse directed at Newport’s Omar Bogle. He was arrested and has been bailed until January.
Director of operations Joe Comper stated that the club are again increasing the number of security stewards at games and have added four more cameras to the Rainham End to help provide greater coverage of potential incidents.
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Cara Simmonds