A man who was caught with a flare at a football game told officers someone put it in his pocket.

Justin McHendrie, 37, of Tollcross, was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court recently after pleading guilty to having a pyrotechnic.

The court heard that at around 1.25pm on May 18, 2024, two police officers saw a man – McHendrie - being ejected from Celtic Park by stewards.

On this date, Celtic were playing their final league game of the 2023/24 season against St Mirren.

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Cops saw McHendrie holding an undischarged flare in his right hand. They approached him and informed him he was under arrest.

McHendrie was cautioned and charged to which he replied “I was going out for a smoke. Someone put the flare in my pocket.”

He was taken to Govan custody suite, processed, cautioned, and charged and made no reply.

McHendrie’s lawyer explained to the court how his client had the flare.

The defence solicitor said: “He was intoxicated at the time. He’d gone outside and there was a group of individuals that were unknown to him that were handing out these flares and he stupidly took one.

“He was stopped and searched going back into the stadium. This was a one-off.”

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Addressing McHendrie, Sheriff Bernard Ablett stated: “Those attending football matches are told time and time again possession of items such as these will not be tolerated.

“Police say that, courts have said that, and various football clubs have said any supporters who behave in this manner are an embarrassment to the club.

“Flares are dangerous and have the potential to cause injury to other spectators.”

Sheriff Ablett fined McHendrie £640.