Wolves fan’s four‑year ban bars him from Euro 2028 after A66 mock

At the Riverside Stadium, a 20‑year‑old Wolves fan raised his phone and flashed the message “Police Killed Your Own” to Middlesbrough supporters as the hosts celebrated a 1‑0 win. The stunt, aimed at the families of the seven victims of the A66 crash, led to a court hearing that resulted in a four‑year football banning order, which also prevents him attending any Euro 2028 matches.

Court finds guilty plea and suspended sentence

Bradley Aston pleaded guilty to a public‑order offence after the footage was posted on social media. The deputy district judge noted that, under the previous Sentencing Act, Aston would have faced immediate custody. Instead, he received an eight‑week jail term suspended for a year, citing the recent change to sentencing guidelines.

Judge Steven Jonas described the act as “unbelievably serious”, adding that the message was intended to provoke a violent reaction and could have sparked substantial disorder. He also highlighted the planning involved in broadcasting the taunt via the Snapchat app.

Football ban and wider repercussions

The court ordered a four‑year ban from attending any football matches within three miles of Molineux, the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers, and extended the restriction to all venues hosting Euro 2028 fixtures. Aston was also ordered to perform community work, pay a £154 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.

Cleveland Police chief constable condemned the “vile” actions, warning that some officers may never return to work after the trauma caused by the A66 tragedy. She said the message inflicted grief, anger and dismay on the force and the wider community.

Defence solicitor Askara Rana told the court that Aston was embarrassed by his actions, had acted without thinking and had let his family and community down. Aston, who is in the second year of a university sport‑performance analysis course and works as a driver, may see his future aspirations affected by the conviction.

News reporter Jeremy Armstrong, writing for the outlet at 15:05 on 14 October 2026, included three “View” prompts and three “Images” tags in the original story, underscoring the visual impact of the incident. The article’s repeated “View 3 Images” cues remind readers of the disturbing footage that sparked the legal action.