Fan acquitted after falling from Ipswich stand during FA Cup tie

John Ryan was acquitted of assault at Ipswich Crown Court after falling from the upper tier of the Cobbold Stand at Portman Road during an FA Cup tie in January 2024 and landing on supporters below.

Ryan, 62, of Railway Street, Chatham, Kent, faced one count of assault by beating and one count of actual bodily harm, both of which he denied; he told the court he had been unable to stop himself during goal celebrations.

Jurors were shown footage of Ryan sliding down and off the sloping roof that covers the boxes between the stand’s upper and lower tiers before he landed on Joanne Peters and her partner Aaron Rose.

Peters told the court she had suffered "elements of whiplash" together with numbness in her hands and internal bruising, while Rose said he had been kicked in the head and that he believed Ryan had been drunk, telling the trial "it wouldn't take a scientist to work it out".

Prosecutor Simon Gladwell told the trial that Ryan had drunk five cans of lager before the match; Ryan told the jury he was unsure whether he had been pushed or his foot had slipped when he fell.

The incident occurred as Ryan was one of thousands of Maidstone United supporters who watched their non-league side win 2-1 over Ipswich, who were heading to promotion from the Championship that season; Ryan described the game as "the biggest match in the club's history" and said he had been celebrating a "special" goal.

The jury returned verdicts of not guilty on both charges and Ryan could be seen crying in the dock as the verdicts were delivered.