Southampton fan cleared of throwing flare on to Fratton Park pitch during Carabao Cup derby with Portsmouth FC
A FOOTBALL fan accused of throwing a flare onto the pitch at Fratton Park has been found not guilty.
Southampton fan Dean Baigrie, 41, of Taplings Close, Winchester, appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday accused of throwing a flare and having a flare at the Portsmouth v Southampton match.
Baigrie was charged after a police investigation into disorder at the third round Carabao Cup match on September 24 last year.
Southampton went on to win 4-0 at the match.
Rival fans were largely prevented from clashing by Hampshire's biggest football operation. But items were thrown at police officers before and after the match.
At a previous hearing prosecutors said a flare was thrown after Saints' 'second or third goal' as it was 'waved about and thrown onto the pitch'.
'It died by the time it got to the pitch,' Alicia Keen previously said.
Baigrie has been cleared of being involved with the flare.
He was previously handed an interim ban on matches by Southampton Football Club.
Separately, a former Ukip candidate in Portsmouth who punched a police horse after the match is due to be sentenced on Friday.
Derek Jennings, 53, of Laburnum Grove, Copnor, will appear at Portsmouth Crown Court after admitting violent disorder when he appeared in court in March.
He punched police horse Luna in the face three times.
Footage of Jennings was widely shared on social media following the match.
He was chased by police after attacking the animal, and fell to the ground as he fled.
Jennings previously stood in the Drayton and Farlington ward in Portsmouth City Council elections, where he failed to get elected.