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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Connor Gordon

East Lothian Hibs fan punched supporter in face after cup semi-final with Hearts

A thug chipped a man's tooth amid a confrontation between Hibs and Hearts fans in Glasgow.

Taylor Clark, 26, punched Aiden Hodgins in the city centre's George Square on April 4 2022. The Edinburgh sides had earlier played in a Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park which Hearts won 2-1.

Groups of supporters congregated near the square's George Peel statue at 4.45pm. Glasgow Sheriff Court was told several members of the groups "became animated putting arms out to the side to antagonise each other."

Read more - East Lothian police operation at holiday park ends in 'disturbance' and arrests

Police were called for and the disruption immediately came to a stop. Prosecutor Jeremy O'Neill said: "The groups began to disperse.

"As officers were about to leave, they saw Clark run towards Mr Hodgins. "He punched him to the face causing an injury."

Hibs fan Clark, of Tranent, was put under arrest. Mr O'Neill stated: "The injury was noted as being a chipped tooth and a bloody nose."

Clark pled guilty to assaulting Mr Hodgins to his injury. Kevin Banks, defending, told the court that his client was at the match that day.

The lawyer added: "He saw his friends get into an altercation with someone and decided to intervene. "In hindsight he recognises the stupidity to his actions - he was intoxicated through alcohol and cocaine. He apologises to the victim and wants to put this behind him."

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Mr Banks told the court that window cleaner Clark no longer attends football matches following the death of his brother Cal who he would normally attend with on June 5 2022.

Cal was struck by a taxi on the A1 in Macmerry near Tranent and was pronounced dead at the scene. A fundraiser for the family was set up following Cal's death which raised a total of £6,500 after its first day.

Sheriff Amel Elfallah told Clark on Thursday: "This was a reprehensible thing to do and stupid. You find yourself before me on a serious charge of violence.

"You are here once again for the same time of offences - substances and football - they should not be mixing. You are about to embark on a new chapter in your life and have nothing outstanding. Hopefully, this is the last of this behaviour from you."

The expectant dad was ordered to do 135 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision for 12 months. He will also pay Mr Hodgins £300 in compensation.

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