A Sheffield Wednesday supporter who held up a message to rival fans mocking the death of former Sheffield United star George Baldock has been given a three-year banning order. Brandon Pedryc, 23, typed out "Where's Baldock" on his phone and waved it at opposing fans during the Steel City derby at Bramall Lane on November 11.
Sheffield Magistrates' Court heard the message was a reference to the death of former United player Baldock, 31, who died in Greece a month earlier. District Judge Marcus Waite described Mr Pedryc's actions as a "moment of madness" and said there was "significant upset caused." The judge said he accepted Mr Pedryc's claim to police that he was responding to being pelted by coins and a bottle as well as being spat on by United fans, who were in a tier of the stand above visiting Wednesday supporters.
He also accepted Mr Pedryc was not directly responsible for his message being quickly shared on social media, although he said this response could have been predicted by the defendant. "I have no doubt that distress was caused to the fans involved,” the judge said. "And there must have been enormous distress to the family and friends of the deceased player, which followed from your actions even if that was not what you intended.".
The judge told Mr Pedryc that "you may have been provoked but you reacted by raising the stakes.”. The court heard the defendant approached a police officer within an hour of the incident once he realised the message had gone viral. He told interviewing officers it was "a sick joke, nothing more" and he just wanted to "wind up" opposition fans.
