A MAN from Surrey has avoided a football banning order after he entered the playing area during an AFC Bournemouth match at Vitality Stadium.

Harry John Drewett, aged 28, was in court unrepresented just a matter of weeks after the offence was committed at the ground on Saturday, April 23.

At the Poole Magistrates’ Court hearing on Monday, May 9, two days after the Championship season came to a close, Drewett pleaded guilty to going onto the playing area without lawful authority during a designated football match.

This is an offence under the Football (Offences) Act 1991.

The defendant, whose address was given as Grosvenor Road, Epsom, was fined £500 and ordered to pay a £50 surcharge and £85 costs.

The bench decided against imposing a football banning order. Court papers stated this was because magistrates were of the opinion that Drewett was "not inciting violence or disorder to justify making of an onerous and lengthy order".

Cherries faced off against Championship promotion rivals Fulham at Vitality Stadium on April 23.

Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring for the visitors before a late Dominic Solanke penalty secured a point for Scott Parker’s side.

Fulham would go on to clinch the Championship title, while Cherries booked their return to the Premier League with victory against Nottingham Forest on May 3.

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