Drunk Tranmere fan climbed onto roof at Carlisle Utd ground

Lifelong Tranmere Rovers supporter Allan Sutton, 41, sparked a four-and-a-half hour stand-off during his team’s League 2 game at the ground.

Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard the 3pm fixture on August 31 was deemed a “low risk” of trouble by police.

Sutton was twice refused entry to the stadium, firstly due to a ticket discrepancy. He bought another and returned to the turnstile at around 2.45pm.

“He was abusive towards the stewards when being subject to a search. He was refused entry,” said prosecutor Diane Jackson. “He was very drunk at this point. He was described as swaying when walking, with slurred speech and his eyes were glazed.”

Sutton began shouting abuse at two police officers monitoring away fans. “He shouted ‘I’m going to commit murder in your town. Is that what you want? Think it’s funny?’”

Sutton left that area but after the game kicked off was seen to have scaled a turnstile roof at the Waterworks End of United’s ground.

“He was holding his balance holding on to a metal lighting pole,” said Mrs Jackson. “He was putting himself in a position of danger by standing on something that was thin, a 10 by 12ft long wall, walking around on top of the turnstile.”

Sutton refused to relent and at one stage pulled down trousers, exposing his buttocks. He remained on the roof throughout the game and after full-time as spectators dispersed.

Sutton on the roof at Brunton Park during the incident (Image: Ben Holmes)

“He continued to be aggressive and abusive, shouting at members of the public as they walked past, including families and children, and also players with their children,” said Mrs Jackson.

“He switched between being abusive, FaceTiming his friends and sunbathing. At 7.30pm he made a decision to come down from the roof after four-and-a-half hours when he was arrested.”

During the incident, members of the emergency services — including firefighters and paramedics — were summoned.

“The actions of the defendant could have been detrimental to the police operation and fixture due to the actions of others who could copy the behaviour he was demonstrating,” added the prosecutor.

The court heard Sutton had been jailed in 2015 after breaking into the wrong house in Prenton, Wirral, while drunk and mistakenly attacking a terrified stranger.

Sutton, of Carr Bridge Road, Wirral, admitted a public order charge following the Carlisle incident and was not legally represented in court.

“I was refused entry. I just wasn’t too happy about it,” he explained to magistrates. “I just seen a fence at the back of the stand. I knew I could climb up on it. I didn’t think I would be seen. I just wanted to get a vantage point. 

“Before I knew it I was on the stand roof. I went along with it. Once I was up there it was too late. I’m just disappointed in myself.”

Sutton did not oppose the banning order sought by police. Asked about the impact this would have, the labourer also said: “I’ve watched Tranmere since I was four years old. I’ve never caused trouble at the football before. It’s not something I go and do.”

Magistrates fined Sutton £400 and ordered him to pay a surcharge and prosecution costs.

They also made a three-year football banning order. This prohibits Sutton being within a mile of Tranmere’s Prenton Park stadium — and all other professional football grounds for four hours before and also after matches.

The ban also applied to England national team fixtures.

Lead magistrate Jill Robinson told Sutton: “Your behaviour wasted a lot of emergency services workers’ time. That time could have been needed in a more pressing situation than watching you behave in that way on a roof.

“That behaviour will not be accepted. You would be thinking the same if your family was in danger; if you needed these emergency workers.”