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 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-28312907

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'Ticketless fans let into Hillsborough' in years before disaster Hillsborough police statement 'sanitised' by third party
(about 11 hours later)
A Hillsborough turnstile operator who worked at 1980s FA Cup ties took money to let ticketless fans into the stadium in the years before the disaster, the inquests heard. A statement given by a police sergeant on the day of the Hillsborough disaster was "sanitised" by a third party, an inquests jury has heard.
Dr James Gauntlett, who worked at the club from 1979 to 1985, said at his turnstile 10% of fans did not have a ticket or were at the wrong end. Sgt David Batty said the wording of a sentence had been changed and a further line had been removed completely.
He said other stewards also allowed fans in while he worked there. The inquests also heard from an ex-turnstile worker who said he took cash to allow ticketless fans into FA Cup ties in the years before the disaster.
By 1985 the club had tightened up procedures, the inquests heard. Dr James Gauntlett said other stewards allowed fans in while he worked there.
In April 1989, 96 Liverpool fans were fatally crushed at the FA Cup semi-final held at the stadium.In April 1989, 96 Liverpool fans were fatally crushed at the FA Cup semi-final held at the stadium.
During his six years with the club, Dr Gauntlett said he worked during FA Cup semi-finals at Hillsborough in 1980 and 1981. Sgt Batty, giving evidence via video link due to poor health, wrote in May of 1989 that he had overheard a radio message at Hillsborough in which an officer was "pleading" for gates to be opened.
He said in 1981 he was told to allow fans "without a valid ticket" into the stadium to avoid a crush at the turnstiles. In his official statement that went before the Lord Taylor public inquiry, the wording was changed to "requesting".
A sentence in which he said a message over the public address system was a "garbled noise" was also removed, the jury heard.
Sgt Batty said he heard "pleadings for the gate to be opened" on the radio while dealing with youths who had been arrested for being drunk at a sporting event.
He said: "The word was crossed out and somebody put 'asked' in and first that went, and put 'requested' in. It was fair enough, it was a request".
'Corrections taken out'
The jury was shown two versions of his statement, but with one with the word 'amend' written on it.
Sgt Batty agreed that it was "very unusual" for a third party to amend an officer's statement and he did not know who had crossed out his sentence.
Mark George QC, representing some of the Hillsborough families, said Sgt Batty's statement had been "sanitised".
He said: "All of these corrections have been taken out so it now reads as if those passages never appeared in your statement".
Sgt Batty was also questioned by Chris Daw QC, representing Chief Supt Donald Denton and Chief Supt Terry Wain.
The two were involved in evidence gathering by South Yorkshire Police after the disaster in 1989.
He agreed with Mr Daw that the changes to his statement had not affected the evidence he gave to the new inquests.
'Extremely dirty look''Extremely dirty look'
The jury earlier heard from Dr Gauntlett, who worked as a turnstile operator at the club from 1979 to 1985.
He said during FA Cup semi-final matches at the stadium in 1980 and 1981, 10% of his fans at his turnstile did not have a ticket or were at the wrong end.
Dr Gauntlett added in 1981 he was told to allow fans "without a valid ticket" into the stadium to avoid a crush at the turnstiles.
By 1985 the club had tightened up procedures, the inquests heard.
Dr Gauntlett told the Warrington court that the "lessons to be learned" from 1980 and 1981 had motivated him to write to the Taylor Inquiry, which investigated the causes of the disaster.Dr Gauntlett told the Warrington court that the "lessons to be learned" from 1980 and 1981 had motivated him to write to the Taylor Inquiry, which investigated the causes of the disaster.
He said at league games fans could buy tickets on the door. At those matches, there was an expectation the cash he had taken, along with the ticket stubs, would tally with the number of fans passing through the turnstiles.He said at league games fans could buy tickets on the door. At those matches, there was an expectation the cash he had taken, along with the ticket stubs, would tally with the number of fans passing through the turnstiles.
He said a supervisor, Basil Jones, would give turnstile operators an "extremely dirty look" if their cash and count did not match and could eventually be dismissed.He said a supervisor, Basil Jones, would give turnstile operators an "extremely dirty look" if their cash and count did not match and could eventually be dismissed.
But as FA Cup semi-final games were sell-outs, no tickets were sold on the door so they only collected ticket stubs.But as FA Cup semi-final games were sell-outs, no tickets were sold on the door so they only collected ticket stubs.
Dr Gauntlett said: "We were explicitly told in 1981 by Basil Jones that our job was to get people through the turnstiles to avoid any crush in the turnstiles and if somebody arrived at the turnstiles without a valid ticket, you should allow them in."Dr Gauntlett said: "We were explicitly told in 1981 by Basil Jones that our job was to get people through the turnstiles to avoid any crush in the turnstiles and if somebody arrived at the turnstiles without a valid ticket, you should allow them in."
He said that police would check tickets outside and his job was to "get them in to the ground as quickly as possible".He said that police would check tickets outside and his job was to "get them in to the ground as quickly as possible".
At each semi-final, he estimated 20 people went through his turnstile without tickets and "probably 60 or 70" went through with a ticket for a different section of the stadium.At each semi-final, he estimated 20 people went through his turnstile without tickets and "probably 60 or 70" went through with a ticket for a different section of the stadium.
Following a question by Jonathan Hough QC, junior counsel to the inquests, Dr Gauntlett said he took £70 in cash on top of his £10 shift payment in 1980. In 1981, he made "over £100".Following a question by Jonathan Hough QC, junior counsel to the inquests, Dr Gauntlett said he took £70 in cash on top of his £10 shift payment in 1980. In 1981, he made "over £100".
Andrew Waters, representing Sheffield Wednesday, said taking money from ticketless fans was "stealing from the club".Andrew Waters, representing Sheffield Wednesday, said taking money from ticketless fans was "stealing from the club".
Dr Gauntlett replied: "Nobody had a claim on that money. The club did not want the money. The club just wanted the ticket stubs."Dr Gauntlett replied: "Nobody had a claim on that money. The club did not want the money. The club just wanted the ticket stubs."
'Capacity exceeded''Capacity exceeded'
Mark George QC, who represents some of the Hillsborough families, asked Dr Gauntlett about what effect taking money from ticketless fans would have on the numbers inside the ground. Mark George QC asked Dr Gauntlett about what effect taking money from ticketless fans would have on the numbers inside the ground.
He asked: "The net result of that would be that the capacity of the Leppings Lane would almost inevitably be exceeded if everyone turned up."He asked: "The net result of that would be that the capacity of the Leppings Lane would almost inevitably be exceeded if everyone turned up."
Dr Gauntlett replied: "Yes."Dr Gauntlett replied: "Yes."
Mr George continued: "And it follows from what you have said that this would have been completely obvious both to the club and to the police?"Mr George continued: "And it follows from what you have said that this would have been completely obvious both to the club and to the police?"
"Yes, it should have been," Dr Gauntlett replied."Yes, it should have been," Dr Gauntlett replied.
The inquests continue.The inquests continue.