

A coach driver whose arrest for being in charge of a coach while stoned left Newcastle FC fans stranded at the Amex has denied the charge.

Michael Saunderson, 48, of Ashington, Northumberland, had driven the fans down from Newcastle on 27 April this year.

But while the game was in progress, he was arrested and later charged with being in charge of a vehicle with 3.2mcg of cannabis per litre of blood in his system.

This morning at Brighton Magistrates Court, he pleaded not guilty. He was released on bail until his trial at the same court on January 23.

After the incident in April, Brighton and Hove Albion and the club’s official travel partner, Seagulls Travel, managed to to arrange relief drivers so that the stranded Newcastle fans could get home.