Fan accused of throwing bottle at Joey Barton faces no further action

John Pounder (26) was charged with hurling a Coca-Cola bottle at the midfielder during Burnley FC’s Championship clash with Rangers at Turf Moor last year.

But now the Crown Prosecution Service has discontinued the case against Mr Pounder after reviewing CCTV evidence from the ground.

The half-full drinks bottle had struck the 31-year-old former Newcastle and Man City player on the head during the Championship fixture on October 26th.

Mr Pounder, of Cedar Avenue, Haslingden, faced one count of throwing a missile onto the playing field and another of threatening behaviour during the Clarets 2-0 win against the West London Club.

He had denied both charges and was due to face trial at Burnley Magistrates’ Court on March 21st after a series of court hearings over the incident.

But now prosecutors have formally withdrawn the charges against him after CCTV footage of the incident proved inconclusive.

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “After receiving a file of evidence from the police the CPS reviewed all the evidence in the case including the CCTV of the incident and concluded that it was not possible to prove from the CCTV images who had thrown the bottle.

For that reason there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction and following consultation with the police the CPS discontinued the case.”

Mr Pounder had been barred from visiting Turf Moor as part of his bail conditions.

Burnley FC officials said a decision had yet to be made whether this would be lifted following the CPS decision to drop the case.