An Aberdeen fan who struck Hearts player James Dunne with a media microphone has been banned from attending football matches for six months.
Shane Bell, from Cove, launched the missile from the stands at Tynecastle as the sides met in Edinburgh on October 20.
The 47-year-old was also fined £1,000 after he pled guilty to culpably and recklessly throwing a microphone, which struck the Jambos’ centre-half, during an appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Depute fiscal Alan Morrison told Sheriff Robert Weir QC the ball had gone out of play near to where Bell was seated.
He said: “At this point the accused took hold of a media microphone and threw it towards the pitch, where it struck James Dunn on the body.”
Defence solicitor Andrew Houston said the ball had been deflected after a corner kick to Hearts and bounced in the direction of his client, who was sitting in the front of the stand, behind an advertising hoarding.
He claimed Bell had reached for the ball, but could not get it, and instead picked up the microphone and tripod and threw it at the ball.
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“It just happened that Mr Dunn was in the process of returning the ball”, he said.
Bell, he told Sheriff Weir, was a lifelong Aberdeen supporter and had travelled down in a dedicated bus.
When the Aberdeen security officer heard of the incident he contacted Bell, who went to the police and told them he had acted in “two seconds of stupidity” adding: “I picked it up and threw it. I didn’t mean to hit anyone”.
Bell was allowed to pay the fine at a rate of £50 a month.