A coked-up football yob who set off a smoke flare near Hibs’ Easter Road stadium before a derby match has dodged a jail sentence.
Dylan Crosbie alarmed fans gathered at an Edinburgh pub before the match when he lit the pyrotechnic which poured out green smoke.
The city’s sheriff court heard previously how the 24-year-old was “shouting and singing” with the device raised above his head right in front of cops.
Crosbie was handed 112 hours of unpaid work after Sheriff Adrian Fraser decided it was a suitable alternative to custody at a hearing on Tuesday.
The court previously heard Crosbie received a five match ban from Hibs over his conduct.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Yates told a hearing last month how the incident took place at around 11.40am as Hibs and Hearts prepared to play.
Ms Yates said a large number of police officers had been deployed to tackle any football-related disorder.
Officers were on foot patrol on Easter Road, Ms Yates added, and were outside the Four In Hand bar where a large number of patrons were gathered on the pavement.
Cops saw Crosbie walking along with the pyrotechnic raised, the court heard, and “green smoke was emitted from each end”.
Pub patrons were “alarmed”, the prosecutor said, and Crosbie obeyed a police order to place the flare on the ground.
Crosbie was searched and another flare, a match ticket, and a £20 bag of cocaine was found.
The game at Easter Road later ended in a 1-1 draw.
Last month Crosbie admitted culpably and recklessly setting off a pyrotechnic in close proximity to members of the public on April 28 2019 and possessing cocaine. Sentencing had been deferred for reports.
Defence agent Victoria Good told last month’s hearing that her hotel worker client was “heavily under the influence of alcohol” and “had also consumed cocaine” at the time of the incident.
She said the dad-of-one “stupidly thought in his intoxicated state” that he was fine to use the pyrotechnic as he wasn’t inside the football ground.
On Tuesday Ms Good said Crosbie and his actions had been investigated by Hibs who found the season ticket holder and “lifelong supporter” of the club wasn’t a serial troublemaker.
Sheriff Fraser imposed unpaid work on Crosbie, of the city’s Leith area. He deemed the club’s punishment “sufficient” and didn’t impose a football banning order.
