VESTED INTEREST, SURELY?
Serial prankster Karl Power and five pals have been banned
by a court from attending any top football match for three
years.
by a court from attending any top football match for three
years.
District Judge David Tapp imposed the orders after hearing
how Power and his friends, dressed in Manchester United kit,
sneaked past security onto the pitch at Old Trafford and re-
enacted a blunder by a Liverpool goalkeeper which gifted a
victory to United.
how Power and his friends, dressed in Manchester United kit,
sneaked past security onto the pitch at Old Trafford and re-
enacted a blunder by a Liverpool goalkeeper which gifted a
victory to United.
The stunt was performed in front of Liverpool supporters and
police moved quickly to prevent crowd trouble, Trafford
magistrates’ court heard.
police moved quickly to prevent crowd trouble, Trafford
magistrates’ court heard.
But as he left court an angry Power said: "We will be
appealing and hopefully another judge has a sense of
humour."
appealing and hopefully another judge has a sense of
humour."
Power, 36, of Droylsden; Thomas Dunn, 40, of Miles Platting;
Gary Gairns, 23, of Collyhurst; Stephen Summerfield, 32, of
Gorton; David McDonald, 40, of Miles Platting; all pleaded
guilty to encroaching on the pitch
Gary Gairns, 23, of Collyhurst; Stephen Summerfield, 32, of
Gorton; David McDonald, 40, of Miles Platting; all pleaded
guilty to encroaching on the pitch
From private Eye 1074:
'Strange goings-on at Trafford magistrates court where would
be beaks have been turned away from the bench en masse.
be beaks have been turned away from the bench en masse.
'Around a dozen people - all due to join the bench this year
- were rejected by the duchy of Lancaster...for "political
bias".... local magistrates say it's bizarre for every
single applicant to be refused...
- were rejected by the duchy of Lancaster...for "political
bias".... local magistrates say it's bizarre for every
single applicant to be refused...
'The failure to appoint the new lay magistrates may,
however, create work for Trafford’s new stipendiary
magistrate, district judge David Tapp. Judge Tapp was
arrested in November 2001 along with prominent Liverpool
lawyer Kevin Dooley (who was struck off by the law society
and remains under police investigation), district judge Paul
Firth and 6 other Magistrates’ court clerks.
however, create work for Trafford’s new stipendiary
magistrate, district judge David Tapp. Judge Tapp was
arrested in November 2001 along with prominent Liverpool
lawyer Kevin Dooley (who was struck off by the law society
and remains under police investigation), district judge Paul
Firth and 6 other Magistrates’ court clerks.
'After a six month investigation into serious corruption
allegations, involving premiership football tickets, it was
decided that no further action would be taken against Tapp,
Firth or three of the clerks; but he has never again sat in
a Liverpool court. He was given the new job in Trafford at
the end of 2002.'
allegations, involving premiership football tickets, it was
decided that no further action would be taken against Tapp,
Firth or three of the clerks; but he has never again sat in
a Liverpool court. He was given the new job in Trafford at
the end of 2002.'
Background info: Tapp is mates with Kevin Dooley who in turn
is mates with Roy Evans, former manager of Liverpool.
is mates with Roy Evans, former manager of Liverpool.