Hearts fan escapes punishment for pitch run

Published on Saturday 30 May 2009 11:18

A HEARTS fan who ran onto the pitch during a match against Hibs at Tynecastle has escaped punishment.

Robert Philips was among a number of fans who climbed over the safety barrier and invaded the pitch on 7 May after Hibs striker Derek Riordan scored a penalty.

Philips only managed to run a few yards onto the pitch before he was brought down by security and spent a night in police cells.

He pleaded guilty to breach of the peace at Edinburgh's Justice of the Peace Court the following day where he was warned he could face jail.

But yesterday the 25-year-old electrician was admonished for the offence.

Another fan, 16-year-old Ryan Wyllie, who ran onto the pitch and squared up to Riordan was fined 400 last month.

Justice of the Peace Les McEwan said he had read "glowing" character references for Philips, who works as a volunteer at a childrens' cancer charity, describing his action as, "an impulsive inexplicable act by someone who has not previously been in trouble".

Philips' lawyer, Nigel Bruce, said the first offender, of John's Place, Edinburgh, had "just about collapsed in the dock" when he was warned he could be jailed.

He said the media coverage of the actions had affected Philips' family and he had received taunts at work about it.