Football hooligan faces £7k dental bill after headbutting steward during pitch invasion

Posted Friday, November 06, 2020 by Dailystar.co.uk

Nathan Brown, 27, tried to invade the pitch at a match between QPR and Charlton Championship last December and assaulted Ahmed Laaouiti – who lost two teeth and was left with a lisp

Nathan Brown has admitted headbutting a football steward so hard he was left with a lisp (Image: Steve Reigate Daily Express)

A football fan is facing a £7,000 dental bill after he headbutted a steward in the face so hard he's been left with a lisp.

Nathan Brown, 27, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Ahmed Laaouiti at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this month.

He was sent to Isleworth Crown Court to be sentenced, but a judge adjourned the hearing today after ruling the case was so serious she needed a pre-sentencing report from probation.

The court heard Charlton fan Brown tried to invade the pitch during the QPR vs Charlton Championship match at The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on December 21, 2019.

Prosecutor Olu Phillips said: "Your honour may have seen the statement of the complainant, he has lost his two front teeth and ten months after the incident he complains of still being in pain."

Football hooligan faces £7k dental bill after headbutting steward during pitch invasion
Brown maintains he wasn't trying to get on the pitch and was instead celebrating a goal (Image: Steve Reigate Daily Express)

It was said Mr Laaouiti has so far paid out £7,658 of his own money to receive extensive dental work following the attack.

Judge Karen Holt said: "He's had CT scans and X-rays, nerve damage, teeth had to be removed. He's developed a lisp as well."

The court heard Brown has previous convictions for burglary and dishonesty and one for grievous bodily harm from 2015.

Judge Holt said: "He's not a man of good character. He's been convicted of a section 20 before for which he got two and a half years imprisonment. On the face of it, it clearly passes the custody threshold.

Football hooligan faces £7k dental bill after headbutting steward during pitch invasion
The assault took place at The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in December 2019 (Image: Getty Images)

"I have no ability to consider a suspended sentence without a pre-sentence report. I don't know why it's listed without one."

Brown's barrister Dominic Bardill said his client previously worked as a roofer but due to the pandemic now mainly works as a removals man.

Mr Bardill told the court he had around £1,000 a month available to pay compensation to the victim.

He said: "He would like to pay the dental charges and any other compensation to the individual.

"The allegation he was trying to get into the pitch, the defendant maintains he was just jumping around just celebrating a last minute goal.

Football hooligan faces £7k dental bill after headbutting steward during pitch invasion
Brown was to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court but a judge adjourned the hearing (Image: Hounslow Chronicle)

"That's not to take away from the severity. Mr Brown turned up today with a bag packed, he fully understands the severity of the situation."

Judge Holt said: "I'm going to order a report. I make it absolutely clear it passes the immediate custody threshold without a doubt. It's whether it's immediate or with a heavy package to a suspended sentence.

"It's a serious matter, you have changed this man's life and it's only right that I have enough information about you that I can consider exactly what to do about you.

"The fact you may be able to offer a substantial amount of compensation will be taken into account.