A TEENAGER has appeared in court accused of endangering football fans by setting off a smoke bomb inside a stadium during a Scottish Championship game.

The 16-year-old, who can’t be named for legal reasons, appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court to face charges relating to the St Mirren v Falkirk game at St Mirren Park on Saturday, September 12 last year.

He is charged with breaking the law by being in possession of a smoke bomb, and endangering other spectators by culpably and recklessly lighting it. 

The youngster, from Linwood, appeared in the dock without legal representation.
Sheriff Vincent Canavan asked him if he wished to withhold his plea and seek the advice of a solicitor.

The sheriff said: “This is very much in the public eye at the moment.
“Do you realise you could go to a Young Offenders’ Institute for this?

“You are a really young man who is probably looking at a jail sentence - you might well wish to have a solicitor representing you on your behalf.
“Do you want me to allow you two weeks so you can speak to a lawyer?”

The youngster replied “yes” and Sheriff Canavan continued the case against the teen without plea until next month to allow him “to seek legal representation.”

Court papers claim he broke Section 20(3) of the Criminal Law Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1995 by having a smoke bomb on him in a “designated sports ground.”