Jack Grealish: Birmingham City fan jailed for pitch attack Published duration 11 March 2019

image copyright Reuters image caption Jack Grealish was attacked from behind by Paul Mitchell at St Andrew's

A Birmingham City fan has been jailed for 14 weeks for attacking Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish during the second city derby.

Paul Mitchell, of Rubery, Worcestershire, ran on to the pitch and hit Grealish from behind about 10 minutes into Sunday's game.

Mitchell, 27, admitted assault and encroachment on to the pitch at Birmingham Magistrates' Court earlier.

He "cannot explain what came over him yesterday morning", his solicitor said.

"His initial foolish intention was to just go on to the pitch and whip up the crowd," said Vaughn Whistance, defending.

image copyright PA image caption Pub worker Mitchell blew kisses while being led off the field

Mitchell, of Cock Hill Lane, was also ordered to pay £350 in fines and costs and has been banned from attending any football matches in the UK for 10 years.

The £350 includes £100 in compensation for Grealish's "pain, discomfort and shock".

The Villa midfielder was able to continue with the game at St Andrew's and went on to score the winning goal in the 67th minute

Mitchell, a pub worker, claimed he was not drunk when he invaded the pitch and punched Grealish in the jaw.

image caption Paul Mitchell's prison sentence "should be a deterrent", magistrates said

"I cannot help but feel how lucky I was in this incident," the player said.

"It could have been so much worse had the supporter had some sort of weapon."

Birmingham City apologised to both Grealish and Villa immediately after the game and said Mitchell had been banned from St Andrew's for life. He has also been banned from away games.

The club said there were "no excuses" for his behaviour, which "has no place in football".

West Midlands Police said it was also investigating "offensive social media posts" that appeared after the goal referencing Grealish's younger brother, who died when the midfielder was four.

Birmingham City said it had banned another supporter for life over the "vile and malicious" tweets.

image copyright PA image caption Grealish went on to score the winning goal for Aston Villa

Mitchell, who has been a season ticket holder for 20 years, was said to be "very remorseful" after realising he had "brought shame" on his club.

His defence asked for community service or a suspended prison sentence but magistrates ruled that a "message had to be sent out to fans".

The father-of-one's prison sentence "should be a deterrent", magistrates added.

During the court hearing, Mr Whistance said online threats had been made to Mitchell.

Mr Whistance said his family had left the area "through fear that they would suffer serious harm or even death".

'Safety of players'

An FA spokesperson said "a line had been crossed" and strongly condemned the attack, as well as another pitch invasion during the Manchester United and Arsenal match

It has written to Birmingham City to examine the club's security measures.

image copyright Reuters image caption Grealish sat on the turf while Mitchell was apprehended

The club said it had begun reviewing all of its stewarding, safety and security procedures "as a matter of high importance".

"We will be putting into place extra measures at our stadium designed to help ensure the safety of players, as well as supporters," a spokesman said.

The club also confirmed it was investigating an incident involving a steward "after Aston Villa players celebrated their goal on Sunday in front of their supporters in the Gil Merrick Stand".

"Either through points deductions or by emptying stadiums and making clubs play behind closed doors," he said.

In 2002, a Birmingham City fan who ran on to the St Andrew's pitch and confronted Aston Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman was jailed for four months for encroaching the playing area and using threatening behaviour.