Falling Maidstone Fan Found Not Guilty
Wednesday, 14th Oct 2026 13:18
The Maidstone fan accused of assault when falling from the top tier of the Cobbold Stand onto fans below during the FA Cup tie between the Blues and the Stones in January 2024 has been found not guilty
John Ryan of Rochester Street, Chatham, Kent, denied one count of assault by beating and one count of actual bodily harm after dropping onto home supporters Joanne Peters and Aaron Rose in the section below when his team, which ultimately won the tie 2-1, scored their opening goal.
According to _[BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c65ynlyz385xo)_, the 62-year-old was crying as the jury returned not guilty verdicts on both counts.
In his evidence, Ryan had told Ipswich Crown Court he was unsure whether he had fallen or been pushed but that he had been unable to stop himself careering down the top of the executive boxes during what he described as “the biggest match in the club's history”.
“Everyone's jumping about and you just go where you go,” he said. “I don't know if I bumped somebody or my foot slipped or what. I just ended up going down the stairs.
“I couldn't stop myself, my leg hit that wall... I just started tilting over. As I put my arm out, I just started rolling over. There's nothing to hold on to.”
Prosecutor Simon Gladwell had told the court Ryan, who had consumed five cans of lager prior to the game and missed work due to arm and leg injuries sustained in the incident, had thrown himself over the barrier on purpose.
“He deliberately - effectively - threw himself on the roof to roll down it,” Gladwell said. “It was a deliberate action and he was at the very least reckless as to what injury he would cause.”
Peters outlined her injuries to the jury, having suffered elements of whiplash and numbness in her hands, as well as internal bruising, while her partner Rose said he had received a kick to the head.
At the time of the incident, which was shared widely on social media, Suffolk Constabulary [said no action would be taken](https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/46538/fan-fall-not-a-police-matter) with the matter being dealt with by the club and Safety Advisory Group.
However, Ryan was charged at the end of August 2024 and the following month appeared at Ipswich Magistrates' Court where he pleaded not guilty.
As a result of the incident, Town fitted transparent barriers to prevent a recurrence.
_Photo: Matchday Images_