Red-carded footballer ‘drove 4x4 at referee’
Sunday league footballer Joseph Rimmer was so enraged at being sent off he drove his car on to the pitch and tried to run over the referee, a court heard today.
Moments after being given his marching orders, Rimmer jumped into his Range Rover, sending officials and players running for safety.
The referee managed to hide in the goal area while Rimmer performed ‘doughnuts’ on the pitch.
Rimmer then got out of his car and shouted threats at the match officials.
‘He drove on to the pitch in an attempt to get the match abandoned,’ Philip Tully, defending, told Liverpool crown court.
‘He accepts he drove towards the referee and his comments and threats made to the referee when he got out the car together amount to the offence of affray.’ The referee, David Harkness, was unhurt in the incident.
Mr Tully said his client admitted affray on a basis that included the fact he had driven on to the council-run pitch.
Rimmer, from Melling in Merseyside, snapped while playing for Lonsdale against Southport and District league rivals Harrington in February.
‘He understands this is a serious matter. What happened was highly unpleasant for Mr Harkness,’ said Mr Tully. Rimmer has no previous convictions and is in full-time employment, his lawyer said.
Rimmer was granted bail on condition he stays away from league games and does not contact Mr Harkness.
He will be sentenced next month.
Sunday league footballer Joseph Rimmer was so enraged at being sent off he drove his car on to the pitch and tried to run over the referee, a court heard today.
Moments after being given his marching orders, Rimmer jumped into his Range Rover, sending officials and players running for safety.
The referee managed to hide in the goal area while Rimmer performed ‘doughnuts’ on the pitch.
Rimmer then got out of his car and shouted threats at the match officials.
‘He drove on to the pitch in an attempt to get the match abandoned,’ Philip Tully, defending, told Liverpool crown court.
‘He accepts he drove towards the referee and his comments and threats made to the referee when he got out the car together amount to the offence of affray.’ The referee, David Harkness, was unhurt in the incident.
Mr Tully said his client admitted affray on a basis that included the fact he had driven on to the council-run pitch.
Rimmer, from Melling in Merseyside, snapped while playing for Lonsdale against Southport and District league rivals Harrington in February.
‘He understands this is a serious matter. What happened was highly unpleasant for Mr Harkness,’ said Mr Tully. Rimmer has no previous convictions and is in full-time employment, his lawyer said.
Rimmer was granted bail on condition he stays away from league games and does not contact Mr Harkness.
He will be sentenced next month.
The article above was from 26th October. The trial has just taken place and Rimmer has been jailed:
Footballer Jailed For Driving 4x4 At Referee
5:28pm UK, Tuesday November 23, 2010
Tessa Chapman, north of England correspondent
A Sunday League footballer who drove his car at a referee and threatened to shoot him has been jailed for 24 weeks.
Joseph Rimmer, 28, snapped when he realised he was about to be shown a red card during a match in Southport in Feburary.
The fitness instructor and nightclub doorman stormed off the pitch and returned driving his 4x4, causing referee David Harkness and players to run for their lives.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the game between Rimmer's team Lonsdale and local rivals Harrington had initially passed without incident.
But Derek Jones, prosecuting, said the player saw red after Mr Harkness ignored his claim he had been fouled then awarded a free kick against him.
He continued to hurl abuse at the referee, who reached into his pocket to book the player.
Rimmer threatened him: "If you book me or send me off, you know what will happen."
He added: “I’m going to run you down,” before walking off the pitch.
Minutes later he reappeared at the wheel of his Range Rover.
The court heard from witness statements that people reacted with "panic and fear" and some had to run or arch their backs to get out of the way of Rimmer's car.
When the defendant came to a stop, he got out of the car and made a gun shape with his hand, shouting towards Mr Harkness: "I'm going to shoot you."
In a victim impact statement, Mr Harkness said he lived in fear the footballer would carry out his threat and has considered giving up refereeing after 35 years.
Rimmer pleaded guilty to affray at an earlier hearing and said he was "ashamed" of his actions.
5:28pm UK, Tuesday November 23, 2010
Tessa Chapman, north of England correspondent
A Sunday League footballer who drove his car at a referee and threatened to shoot him has been jailed for 24 weeks.
Joseph Rimmer, 28, snapped when he realised he was about to be shown a red card during a match in Southport in Feburary.
The fitness instructor and nightclub doorman stormed off the pitch and returned driving his 4x4, causing referee David Harkness and players to run for their lives.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the game between Rimmer's team Lonsdale and local rivals Harrington had initially passed without incident.
But Derek Jones, prosecuting, said the player saw red after Mr Harkness ignored his claim he had been fouled then awarded a free kick against him.
He continued to hurl abuse at the referee, who reached into his pocket to book the player.
Rimmer threatened him: "If you book me or send me off, you know what will happen."
He added: “I’m going to run you down,” before walking off the pitch.
Minutes later he reappeared at the wheel of his Range Rover.
The court heard from witness statements that people reacted with "panic and fear" and some had to run or arch their backs to get out of the way of Rimmer's car.
When the defendant came to a stop, he got out of the car and made a gun shape with his hand, shouting towards Mr Harkness: "I'm going to shoot you."
In a victim impact statement, Mr Harkness said he lived in fear the footballer would carry out his threat and has considered giving up refereeing after 35 years.
Rimmer pleaded guilty to affray at an earlier hearing and said he was "ashamed" of his actions.
Ooops...
at the hoodie and shirt / tie combination.
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