Ipswich supporter feared for life after Maidstone fan fell from upper tier
October 13, 2026 17:10
WHAT HAPPENED
Joanne Peters, who has scoliosis, said 62-year-old John Ryan landed on her shoulder after sliding down a sloping roof between the stand's upper and lower tiers. The court heard footage showing the defendant sliding down and off the roof. Peters said she initially thought "the box behind us had collapsed into us" and that "the pressure of that fall — he could have broken my neck."
Peters told the jury she suffered "elements of whiplash", numbness in her hands and internal bruising. Her partner, Aaron Rose, said he was kicked in the back of the head during the incident.
COURT EVIDENCE
Ryan, of Rochester Street, Chatham, Kent, has pleaded not guilty to one count of assault by beating and one count of actual bodily harm. The trial heard he had been among thousands of Maidstone United supporters who saw their non-league club win 2-1.
Prosecutor Simon Gladwell told the court Ryan had drunk five cans of lager before the match and argued the defendant moved toward the roof during a goal celebration. The prosecution said two other men went onto the roof at the same time but were stopped.
Ryan told jurors the game was "the biggest match in the club's history" and he had been celebrating a "special" goal. He said: "I don't know if I bumped somebody or my foot slipped or what; I just ended up going down the stairs... I just started tilting over."
He told the court he missed work because of injuries to his arm and leg.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The jury has retired to consider its verdicts.