Mansfield Town football hooligan in court for attacking Carlise supporters’ bus

Gary Bence, of Nesbitt Street, Sutton, had been to the Mansfield Town vs Carlisle football match at Field Mill on Saturday, August 8, when he saw the supporters coach parked up near the ground.

The 48-year-old said in Mansfield Magistrates’ Court that he “lost his temper” with the fans, after they had beat his team in a previous match.

Bence pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the side panel of the bus, whilst the driver was waiting to pick fans up from the match.

Prosecuting, Marjorie Kirkham-Smith, said Bence was holding a grudge from when Carlisle fans once did it to a Mansfield Town bus many years ago.

She said: “He saw the bus and it made him angry.

“But Mr Bence apparently said to the police ‘it’s just football’.”

Defending himself, Bence said: “To be honest with you, I can’t remember the incident,

“The damage to the bus was down to drink.”

Lead magistrate Elaine Konieczny said: “It is not acceptable, especially in a revenge matter, that you throw a rock at a bus.”

The case was adjourned until September 1.