Rangers fan avoids jail after sectarian chants

A RANGERS fan who sang sectarian chants at a match has won an appeal against a three-month sentence of detention.

• Rangers fan wins appeal against three-month prison sentence

• Connor McGhie, 19, sang songs about Pope, the Vatican and Celtic at Inverness-Rangers game last year

Connor McGhie, 19, of Carluke, South Lanarkshire, sang references to the Pope, the Vatican and Celtic at the Inverness Caledonian Thistle-Rangers game in February last year.

He was convicted at Inverness Sheriff Court of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, and Sheriff Ian Abercrombie, QC, decided there was no alternative to a custodial sentence. He also imposed a six-month football banning order.

The defence counsel, Claire Mitchell, submitted to the Justiciary Appeal Court in Edinburgh that the three-month sentence was excessive. She said McGhie, a first offender who came from a “mixed” family, was ashamed and embarrassed by his behaviour.

Lord Mackay and Lord Burns said they disagreed with the sheriff’s view that there was no real prospect of rehabilitation of McGhie.

Taking into account his age, lack of criminal record and a presumption against short custodial sentences, they had decided to impose a community payback order, requiring McGhie to perform 150 hours of community work.