Fan who mocked dead player at derby match fined and banned from football
A district judge described Brandon Pedryc’s actions as a “moment of madness” after hearing how the 23-year-old
typed out “Where’s Baldock” in large letters on his phone and waved it at rival fans during the Championship match
at United’s Bramall Lane ground on November 11. One Sheffield Wednesday supporter who held up a message at the
Steel City derby mocking the recent death of a former Sheffield United player has been fined £300 and given a
football banning order.
The letter alluded to the passing of former United player George Baldock, who passed away in Greece one month
prior at the age of thirty-one, according to a hearing held Monday at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court.
Marcus Waite, the district judge, said he agreed with Pedryc’s police statement that he was reacting to United
supporters in a tier of the stand above the visiting Wednesday supporters spitting on him and throwing coins and a
bottle at him.
The judge also acknowledged that Pedryc was not directly to blame for his message’s rapid national social media
spread, but he claimed the defendant may have foreseen this reaction.
However, “there was significant upset caused,” the judge stated.
“I have no doubt that the fans involved were distressed,” he said. Even if what you did was not your intention, the
family and friends of the dead athlete must have been in a great deal of grief as a result of your actions.
The defendant told interviewing police officers it was “a sick joke, nothing more” and he just wanted to to “wind up”
the United fans.
District Judge Waite said he had received a lengthy letter from Pedryc and accepted he was “thoroughly remorseful”.
Pedryc, who resides in Barnsley, acknowledged that he had displayed writing, a sign, or any other visible representation that was abusive or threatening in front of someone who might have been harassed, threatened, or distressed.
He was handed a three-year football ban, fined £300, and forced to pay £205 in costs and extras.
The client had already lost his £30,000 job due to the event, according to the defence attorney Alex Nolan, who told the court that he had now found another career.
Speaking about Pedryc’s mental health problems, Mr. Nolan indicated that the Crown Prosecution Service disagreed with the police’s desire to handle the case cautiously.
Despite having no prior convictions, he claimed his client had made a bad choice and it was “conduct he’s ashamed of.”
According to Mr. Nolan, Pedryc had a Wednesday season ticket and had been a home gamegoer for 15 years, but he rarely went to away games.
In October, Greek international right back George Baldock was discovered dead in his Athens swimming pool.
Before departing last year to join Panathinaikos of Greece, he played 219 games for the Blades over seven seasons.
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