An offence under Section 4a of the Public Order Act 1994, causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress.
Fear or provocation of violence.
(1)A person is guilty of an offence if he—
(a)uses towards another person threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or
(b)distributes or displays to another person any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting,
with intent to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence will be used against him or another by any person, or to provoke the immediate use of unlawful violence by that person or another, or whereby that person is likely to believe that such violence will be used or it is likely that such violence will be provoked.
(2)An offence under this section may be committed in a public or a private place, except that no offence is committed where the words or behaviour are used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation is distributed or displayed, by a person inside a dwelling and the other person is also inside that or another dwelling.
(3)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both.
He did it at a football match, which is most definitely an attempt at provocation - and he's plead guilty because there was no way around it.
Sentencing guidelines from https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magistrates-court/item/disorderly-behaviour-with-intent-to-cause-harassment-alarm-or-distress-racially-or-religiously-aggravated-disorderly-behaviour-with-intent-to-cause-harassment-alarm-or-distress/
A – High culpability:
- Targeting of individual(s) by a group
- Sustained incident
- Use of substantial force
- Substantial disturbance
- Production of weapon
- Missiles thrown
B – Lesser culpability
All other cases
Harm
The court should consider the factors set out below to determine the level of harm that has been caused or was intended to be caused to the victim.
Category 1
- Serious distress or alarm caused
- Distress or alarm caused to multiple persons present
Category 2
Well, there's definitely Category 1 Harm caused.
Then there's the starting point for sentencing.
If it's deemed a B/Category 1, that's between a Low level community order and a 12 week custodial sentence and a category C fine.
Fine Band C starting point is 150% of relevant weekly income but will vary between 125 – 175% of relevant weekly income.
Community Order (if he squeaks under the custodial level)
Offences only just fall below the custody threshold or the custody threshold is crossed but a community order is more appropriate in the circumstances. More intensive sentences which combine two or more requirements may be appropriate
- Suitable requirements might include:Any appropriate rehabilitative requirement(s)
- 150 – 300 hours of unpaid work
- Curfew requirement for example up to 16 hours per day for 4 – 12 months**
- Exclusion requirement lasting in the region of 12 months
Whether or not he's met the threshold for custodial sentencing is probably balancing upon
Appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody
...unless he's got previous for not complying with court orders (any pissed off exes in the mix, for example - or previous being a dick at football?)
Factors increasing seriousness (I've bolded the ones I think might apply)
Statutory aggravating factors:
- Previous convictions, having regard to a) the nature of the offence to which the conviction relates and its relevance to the current offence; and b) the time that has elapsed since the conviction
- Offence committed whilst on bail
- Offence motivated by, or demonstrating hostility based on any of the following characteristics or presumed characteristics of the victim: disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity
Other aggravating factors:
- Planning
- Offence committed against those working in the public sector or providing a service to the public
- Leading role in group
- Vulnerable persons or children present
- Victim is targeted due to a vulnerability (or a perceived vulnerability) where not already taken into account in considering racial or religious aggravation
- History of antagonising the victim
- Victim(s) had no opportunity to escape situation (eg: offence occurred on public transport)
- Commission of offence whilst under the influence of alcohol/drugs
- Offence committed whilst on licence or post sentence supervision
- Failure to comply with current court orders
It's not looking good for him - even if the OP thinks it's not worthy of the potential penalties.