Maidstone United fan John Ryan has been found not guilty of assault after falling from the upper tier of a grandstand onto home supporters during an FA Cup match. The incident took place at Ipswich Town's Portman Road ground in January 2024, where Ryan landed on Joanne Peters and Aaron Rose.
Ryan, 62, from Chatham, Kent, had denied one count of assault by beating and one count of actual bodily harm. He told Ipswich Crown Court that he was unable to stop himself during goal celebrations, describing the game as "the biggest match in the club's history" for his non-league side, which won 2-1.
The court heard that Ryan fell from the Cobbold Stand's upper tier, slid down a sloping roof, and landed on the Ipswich supporters below. He testified that he was unsure if he had been pushed or if his foot had slipped. The prosecutor had previously stated that Ryan had consumed five cans of lager before the match.