A drunk football fan who hugged and kissed two children during wild celebrations when Arsenal played Nottingham Forest is now facing a possible jail sentence for assault.
Corey Bills, 21, grabbed hold of the boys, aged 11 and 14, and kissed them on the top of their heads when the ball hit the back of the net, a court heard.
He was in the crowd at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Forest on November 23, which ended in a 3-0 win for the Gunners.
Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, and Thomas Partey were on target for the home side, while Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber and Forest’s Jota Silva both had goals ruled out for offside.
Highbury Corner magistrates court heard Bills, who lives in Loughborough in Leicestershire, did not know the children who were both seated in an area set aside for people with disabilities.
He had been permitted to stand in that area because he was sporting an injury to his leg.
“It seems there was a goal that was scored”, said prosecutor Tom Gill. “His reaction to the goal was that he hugs and kisses both of the complainants on the top of the head.
“The boys are 11 and 14 and do have vulnerabilities, they were in the disabled section.”
One of the boys has Asperger’s Syndrome, the court heard, and they were left feeling “uncomfortable and shocked” by the incident.
Bills has now pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating, as well as a charge of being drunk in a sports ground.
Mr Gill said Bills - in his guilty pleas - says he “didn’t have hostile intent and didn’t intend to cause fear”.
“The prosecution say he ought to have realised hugs and kisses on two vulnerable boys, while not intending any harm, while drunk would have caused them fear.
“That’s the situation – after a goal, he reacted that way, and he was in a section of the ground where there’s people with vulnerabilities.”
Robert Perkins, defending, said Bills was arrested after a report to police by one of the stewards at the Emirates.
He pointed out that CCTV covering the stand showed Bills hi-fiving the boys earlier in the match, as well as patting them in a friendly way on the back.
“He has crossed the line”, he said of the assaults, suggesting it was “friendliness misjudged by alcohol consumption”.
District Judge Lorraine McDonagh adjourned sentencing until May, and asked probation to consider potential punishments for Bills including a prison term.
The assault by beating charges carry maximum penalties of six months in prison, but could also end in a fine or a community order.
The court also heard Bills faces a football banning order as a result of the convictions, and he is unlikely to contest the penalty.
He was not in court on Thursday for the hearing, but is expected to appear in the dock for sentencing next month.
