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Man City fan jailed after causing £10k damage to a police vehicle following Champions League victory

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His actions were branded 'completely unacceptable'.

A Manchester City fan has been jailed for his part in large-scale disorder following the club’s Champions League victory.

The court heard how, following **Manchester City**’s Champions League Final win over Inter Milan in Istanbul in Turkey on Saturday 10 June 2023, jubilant fans flocked to the streets of Manchester city centre for late-night celebrations.

The large influx of fans in high spirits prompted a police response to ‘ensure public safety’ and ‘prevent any public disorder’, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

However, the disorder did begin to escalate despite police presence.

A number of fans, including 22-year-old Leon Blackett, scaled a police vehicle and proceeded to jump up and down on it, which subsequently caused more than £10,000 worth of damage, and resulted in the vehicle having to be written off.

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#JAILED | Leon Blackett (14/01/2003) of Craigmore Avenue, has been been handed a three-month jail term for causing £10k worth of damage to a police vehicle following the club's Champions League win in 2023, along with 41 months for other offences.

More ➡️ https://t.co/cQ914B12XY pic.twitter.com/X5FDSaS9dH

— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) March 16, 2025

Following the disorder, an investigation was launched by GMP’s City Centre policing, with officers obtaining social media and CCTV footage that helped them to identify those responsible.

Blackett admitted to the offence, after he was arrested on Thursday 19 October 2023.

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Following admitting to the offence, Blackett was sentenced to 44 months in prison – a three-month jail term for this football-related offence, along with 41 months for possession of a bladed article and a domestic related communications offence.

He has also been given a seven-year Football Banning Order, commencing on the day Blackett received his sentence.

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“The actions by Blackett in the wake of Manchester City’s historic Champions League Final victory were completely unacceptable,” commented PC Matt Ford, from GMP’s Specialist Operations Planning Unit.

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“This is a timely reminder to those who commit crimes while following the football in another country, we will seek prosecutions for unacceptable behaviour.”

Featured Image – GMP

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Stevie Wonder to play landmark Manchester gig as part of UK tour this year Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Living legend Stevie Wonder is heading on a UK tour and stopping off in Manchester for the first time in 15 years.

Manchester has been blessed by the music gods yet again, and this time, it comes in the form of funk pioneer Stevie Wonder.

The 74-year-old musician will be bringing his extraordinary grand piano, exceptional live band, and, of course, his groovy tunes like ‘Superstition’, ‘Isn’t She Lovely’, and ‘I Just Called To Say I Love You’ to our city later this year.

Wonder last visited Manchester in 2010, gracing the AO Arena with his presence, but now he’s visiting Manchester’s newest live music entertainment venue, Co-op Live.

Stevie Wonder will be visiting Co-op Live in Manchester this year / Publicity Picture (via Supplied)

The American-Ghanaian icon has an undisputed legacy.

He became the youngest solo artist ever to top the Billboard Hot 100 with his 1963 single ‘Fingertips’ at age 13, and has also won the prestigious Album of the Year category at the Grammys three times, as well as taking home 25 awards in total throughout his career.

His 1976 project Songs in the Key of Life was also featured in Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums at number six by esteemed critics and the public alike – a claim that not many have to their name.

With this 2025 UK tour titled ‘Love, Light & Song’, the Michigan native will be heading to two arenas, Manchester and Birmingham, and taking on various festival performances along the way – including Lytham Festival.

The crowds will be roaring when Stevie Wonder takes to the stage, and rightly so, as this artist has racked up almost 300 weeks in the UK Top 40, with an impressive 39 singles featuring on our charts throughout his career.

He’s an undeniable force, and this show in Manchester is set to be monumental, so ‘Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing’, as you’ll be in for a night of jazz, funk, soul, and everything in between.

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Stevie Wonder will be playing Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 5 July 2025, with tickets going live this Friday 21 March at 10am HERE.

Featured Image – PICRYL

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Detectives investigating the ‘unexplained’ death of a Salford man urgently appeal for information Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Richard Crawt

Detectives who are investigating the currently ‘unexplained’ death of a Salford man have urgently appealed for information.

The public appeal comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was called to reports of concern for welfare of a man at Riverside in Salford, near to the River Irwell, last Sunday (9 March) – but sadly, once emergency services arrived on the scene, the man in his 40s was pronounced dead, despite the best efforts of all involved.

Police have now officially named the man as Richard Crawt.

At this time, GMP says his passing is ‘still being treated as unexplained’, and enquiries are currently ongoing to establish the circumstances of his death.

Withe the investigation actively ongoing, GMP is now seeking help from the Greater Manchester public to identify a timeline of Richard’s movements prior to his death.

#APPEAL | Richard Crawt was sadly pronounced dead at Riverside on Sunday 9 March 2025.

We want to identify a timeline of his movements to understand where & when he was prior to being found deceased.

His passing is being treated as unexplained.

More ➡️ https://t.co/uV9TlSKxgH pic.twitter.com/ajF3Jp4NXm

— Salford Police (GMP) (@GMPSalford) March 14, 2025

They want to understand where and when he was, prior to being found deceased.

It’s believed that Richard was using a blue tent – a picture of which has been released by GMP – and it’s believed that this tent had been pitched on a sandy beach area near the meadows in Salford on Saturday 1 March.

Richard, who was ‘known and loved’ by many, was described by his distraught family as having ‘a heart of gold’, but had sadly just ‘fallen on some hard times in life’.

Appealing to the public for information, Detective Inspector Justin Bryant, from GMP’s Salford district, said: “Our investigation team has been working tirelessly to piece together a timeline of events leading up to this tragic discovery. We have been trawling CCTV footage, speaking with residents in the area to try and understand how and why Richard came to be in this location.

The image released by GMP of the blue tent Richard was using / Credit: GMP

“At this stage of our investigation, we are still working to establish Richard’s final movements and the circumstances that led him to the river [so] we need your help.

“If you were in the vicinity of the River Irwell in Salford around the Lower Broughton area and in particular the Meadows, or if you had any interaction with Richard in the days before his death, please speak with us, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you.

“Richard’s family deserves answers during this incredibly difficult time.”

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Anyone with any information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact GMP on 0161 856 4585 or 101, quoting log number 2221 of 09/03/2025, or you can report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Featured Image – GMP

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