WHAT WAS HE THINKING? Fan who PUNCHED Crystal Palace's eagle mascot Kayla jailed for 21 months

Posted Sunday, April 30, 2017 by Dreamteamfc.com

Football hooligan Daniel Boylett targeted American Bald Eagle during Capital One Cup clash

A football fan who tried to punch an American Bald Eagle has been jailed for 21 months.

WHAT WAS HE THINKING? Fan who PUNCHED Crystal Palace's eagle mascot Kayla jailed for 21 months

Daniel Boylett threw a punch at Crystal Palace mascot Kayla as Charlton Athletic and Palace fans brawled during a Capital One Cup match in September 2015.

Boylett, a 36-year-old father of three, was seen throwing punches at stewards as chaos descended on Selhurst Park in the second half of a 4-1 Palace win.

Police struggled to control fans 'before, during and after the game' as missiles and flares were also used during the violence.

Boylett was convicted of attempted criminal damage and violent disorder – as well as his jail time he is banned from attending matches for six years.

Fellow Charlton fan and convicted drug dealer Colin Kitto, 49, who was seen with a phone constantly to his ear as he marshaled other yobs, was sentenced to 18 months for violent disorder.

He threw a punch and a beer can at a police officer before the game and was also banned from going to football matches for six years.

Sam Donegan, 25, received a nine months suspended for two years for affray and criminal damage and banned from games for three years.

He destroyed a fast food sign in the ground at half time and rushed at a police officer holding a 'large yellow weighted cone' after fighting rival fans in Holmesdale Road after the game.

Father of four Billy Cowcher, 32, was sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years for violent disorder and also banned for three years.

He jumped over seats with his arms out and landed on stewards struggling to hold aggressive Charlton fans back.

The convicted hooligan swung for Kayla, who has been a fixture at matches since 2010, as handler Chris Belsey walked her past away fans in the Arthur Wait stand.

She was unhurt.

Sergeant Emma Dickinson said it was "the worst level of disorder I have ever experienced at a football match – and I have policed many".

Boylett, who runs his own locksmith business, Locksmith Rescue Ltd, was part of a group of Charlton fans that planned a series of organised attacks on police, stewards and rival fans.

Prosecutor Daniel Higgins described how before the game away fans had met in the Flora Sandes Wetherspoon pub in Thornton Heath.

Scaffolding supervisor Kitto, wearing a Burberry cap, was standing outside controlling who was going in and out.

Police began escorting the fans towards Selhurst Park at around 7pm but they broke off from the agreed route and headed towards home fan pub the Clifton Arms led by Kitto.

After police officers set up a cordon the Charlton fans turned on them.

"The group pushed, kicked and punched the police officers trying to hold fast," said Mr Higgins.

"One officer was struck with what he believes may be a bottle that caused a cut to his lip." Once inside the stadium the violence continued with Charlton fans throwing "bottles, smoke bombs and flares".

Senior steward of 30 years Gary Winters said it descended in 'chaos' as there were "too many people who came looking for trouble".

Mr Higgins said stewards were "punched, sworn at, spat at and racially abused" as they tried to prevent Charlton fans getting at the Palace supporters.

"Mr Boylett is seen to throw punches at stewards, at least one of those connected," he said.

Mr Higgins said Donegan, who lives at home with his mum, was part of "possibly several hundred" fans kicking off and police were "struggling to keep order" after the game.

He rushed at a police officer holding a 'large yellow weighted cone' before being taken down by the officer's baton.

Donegan admitted his 'idiotic behaviour' during police interview.

Cowcher, a scaffolder, was caught on CCTV as he "jumped over a seat with arms stretched out and landed on two stewards" in a "Dennis the Menace top".