This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-50223905

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Burnley fan Nathan Higgins said 'racist abuse was banter' Burnley fans abuse trial collapses due to 'failings'
(about 3 hours later)
A football fan accused of shouting racist and homophobic abuse during a Premier League match claimed it was "just banter", a court heard. The trial of two Burnley fans accused of shouting abuse at a Brighton player and fans has collapsed due to "serious failings in bringing evidence".
Burnley supporter Nathan Higgins, 19, allegedly targeted Brighton and Hove Albion's Cameroonian defender Gaetan Bong on 9 February. Nathan Higgins, 19, allegedly targeted Brighton and Hove Albion's Cameroonian defender Gaetan Bong during the Premier League game on 9 February.
Alongside his father Stewart Higgins, 53, he is also accused of hurling anti-gay slurs at Brighton fans. Alongside his father Stewart Higgins, 53, he was also accused of hurling anti-gay slurs at Brighton fans.
The pair, who are on trial at Brighton Magistrates' Court, deny the charges. The pair, who were on trial at Brighton Magistrates' Court, denied the charges.
Fellow Burnley fan Nicholas Ball told the court he heard both men use homophobic abuse at the Amex Stadium, with the younger of the defendants also directing racist abuse at Bong. Footage from body-worn video cameras carried by police at the stadium had not been disclosed to the defence before the trial, the court heard.
When he asked them to stop, the younger man said: "It's just banter, it's just football," the court heard. Maria Higgins, representing the men, said the failure to provide the footage would "thwart the defence in getting a fair trial".
As the half-time whistle blew, Mr Ball claimed the elder man "grabbed me to turn me towards him... he said what he was saying wasn't racist, he was just saying what they used to say in the 1970s. The chair of magistrates, Chris Bell, said: "I find in the Crown's own words there have been serious failings in bringing the evidence in this case we are not prepared to adjourn.
"I said that was 50 years ago, there's no place for it today in football or society," he said. "We feel that in the round given these failings these defendants would not receive a fair trial and we take the exceptional step of staying these proceedings."
"He told me to get my nose out of it." Before the trial collapsed, fellow Burnley fan Nicholas Ball told the court he heard two men use homophobic abuse at the Amex Stadium, with the younger of the two also directing racist abuse at Bong.
Mr Ball said he "felt scared for my own safety," and has not attended a Burnley game since for fear of "being confronted". When he asked them to stop, Mr Ball said the younger man said: "It's just banter, it's just football."
Mr Higgins Snr, an engineer, is charged with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. The father and son had said they were not involved and their lawyer Ms Higgins told the court that "ID was an issue" in the case.
His son, a student, is charged with the same offence, as well as using racially aggravated threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Stewart Higgins, an engineer, was charged with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
The pair, of Talbot Drive, Burnley, Lancashire, deny the charges. His son, a student, was charged with the same offence, as well as using racially aggravated threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
The trial continues. Both men, of Talbot Drive in Burnley, were told they were free to go by Mr Bell.