I was arrested at a football match for being drunk, at the time I admitted to being drunk as I was unaware that was an offence in itself.I was taken to the police station and put in the cells for almost 24hrs (despite being told numerous times I would be let out soon) as there were complications getting in touch with the arresting officer to confirm exactly what happened, and the inspector to be able to grant special bail conditionswhat I want to know is should I just go and plead guilty and save the cost of a solicitor? from what I have read the only way to get found not guilty is to prove I was not drunk, which i have no chance of doingI was arrested purely for being drunk, no violence or abuse of any sortif it was just a fine i wouldn't even think about contacting a solicitor but this 'being drunk in or attempting to enter a designated sports ground' charge is a recordable offence, so despite having never been in trouble with the police in my life before I'm now going to have a record!
Hi Thank you for your question.If you have no record you are all but guaranteed to simply be fined for this offence. If you want to represent yourself that should be a reasonably straightforward task. Just tell the truth, even explain you didn't know it was a crime, but don't dwell on that as ignorance of the law is not an excuse, everyone is deemed to know all the laws of the land, ludicrous I know but true.You will have a record though and not even an experienced solicitor will be able to avoid that outcome.
you say I am all but guaranteed to receive a fine, what could I receive if the worst comes to the worst ?from what I have managed to find on google etc being found with alcohol in or entering a sports ground can carry a jail sentence, but simply being drunk is only a fine and possibly banning order (part of the bail/undertaking conditions is not to enter a SFA match)is that right ?
See other question for response
wrong question