A football lout has been handed a three-year UK-wide ban to all matches after making ‘distressing and frightening’ sexually offensive remarks towards a woman working at Leeds United’s Elland Road Stadium.
Hull City fan Dallas Woods, 31, of Windsor Drive, Goole, was stood at a bar on the concourse of the stadium’s West Stand during a match between the Mighty Whites and Hull on April 1, last year, when he used the offensive language.
Woods then returned to the stands but came back to the bar later on in the evening. He was pointed out to stewards and removed, then arrested by police. Woods admitted one charge of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, after appearing at Leeds Magistrates Court last Thursday (January 9).
Woods was given a 12-month conditional discharge and issued with a three-year Football Banning Order. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £26 victim surcharge.
Speaking after the hearing, West Yorkshire Police’s Chief Superintendent Jonathan Arrowsuch, Match Commander for the fixture, said: “People are entitled to go about their work without the fear of being exposed to such abusive and threatening language.
“Likewise, women and girls should be able to work at and attend football matches without the fear of being the subject of such sexually offensive words.
“Foul, abusive or offensive language such as this will not be tolerated and people who act in this way are not welcome at our football grounds.
“Woods subjected his victim to what was a distressing and frightening experience and was swiftly arrested by officers at the ground after she was able to identify him.”
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