Footballer jailed for driving car at referee on pitch

A SUNDAY league footballer who drove his car at a referee was jailed for 24 weeks yesterday.

Joseph Rimmer, 28, drove his 4x4 on to the pitch, causing referee David Harkness and football players to run for their lives, Liverpool Crown Court was told.

Rimmer, of Satinwood Crescent, Melling, Merseyside, reacted with fury as he was about to be shown a red card during a game at Portland Street playing fields in Southport on Sunday, February 14.

Derek Jones, prosecuting, said “the defendant claimed to the referee that he had been fouled but Mr Harkness waved play on”.

Rimmer continued to hurl abuse at Harkness, the court was told, and the referee reached to his pocket to book the player.

Rimmer, a fitness instructor and nightclub doorman, threatened him: “If you book me or send me off, you know what will happen.”

Harkness took that as a threat, Jones said.

“But before he could be shown the red card, the defendant stated, ‘I’m going to run you down’, then walked off the pitch,” the barrister added.

“He then walked across a neighbouring pitch as another game was going on. When players shouted to the defendant to get off the pitch, he told them, ‘Watch me run the fucking ref over’.

“He went over to his Range Rover and drove toward the pitch.”

Rimmer’s car came to within five yards of Harkness, the court heard.

The referee and the players managed to get out of the way of the vehicle as he drove in circles on the pitch.

Witnesses statements read to the court said people reacted with “panic and fear” and some had to run or arch their backs to get out of the way of Rimmer’s car.

When the defendant came to a stop, he got out of the car and made a gun shape with his hand, shouting towards Harkness: “I’m going to shoot you.”

The matter was reported to police and Rimmer later voluntarily attended a police station.

Philip Tully, defending, said in mitigation that Rimmer was “ashamed” of his conduct.