NEWCASTLE UNITED FAN JAILED FOR PUNCHING HORSE!

A Newcastle United fan who punched a police horse when trouble flared following his side's defeat to Sunderland has been jailed for a year. 45 year old Barry Rogerson from Bedlington, Northumberland, squared up to the horse called Bud, from West Yorkshire's mounted section, while wearing a scarf over his face.
 
Almost 100 Newcastle fans were charged following clashes with police after the game at St James' Park. Rogerson pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to violent disorder. He was also given a six-year football banning order.

Judge Paul Sloan QC, said Rogerson had "had plenty of opportunities to move away [from the horse]".
He added: "You stood your ground and attacked the horse by punching it in the head. There was a risk of serious injury, the officer could easily have been thrown from the horse and could have sustained serious injury."

Rogerson previously told the BBC he was "not a thug" and was wearing a scarf across his face to stop the cold wind getting into his mouth after a "filling had dropped out".


The horse was not hurt in the attack in April.