A FAN has avoided a football banning order after lighting a flare in the concourse of the away stand at Vitality Stadium.

Mohammed Ketami, 18, from Boreham Wood, lit a blue flare in the concourse of AFC Bournemouth’s stadium during Boreham Wood’s shock FA Cup win in February.

The A-level student pleaded guilty to possessing a flare at a football match and appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court for sentence on Wednesday, March 16.

Prosecuting, Richard Oakley played CCTV to the court showing the flare being waved around the concourse underneath the away stand on February 6.

He said Ketami waved the flare around before dropping it on the floor.

The defendant then watched the match and was apprehended when leaving the stadium.

Mr Oakley said there was an application for a football banning order, which would prevent the 18-year-old from attending matches.

He said: “For most supporters the thought of receiving a banning order is what they fear most.”

Mitigating, Todd Twine said Ketami was handed the flare by other supporters and encouraged to light it.

Ketami used his birthday money to travel down to Bournemouth and stay in the town for a few nights with his friends.

Mr Oakley said: “He was very happy and excited and someone hands him this flare and all of a sudden a group of lads were daring him to light it.

“He watches the whole game, at the end of the game he is stopped by the police and arrested.

“He is aware what he has done is wrong and is lucky nobody got hurt and no damage was done.”

Mr Twine said Ketami watched Arsenal or Boreham Wood most weekends and football was a release for him.

The defendant was “ashamed” of what he had done and fully accepted it.

Deputy District Judge Robert Morgan-Jones sentenced Ketami to a conditional discharge for six months and ordered him to pay a £22 victim surcharge.

He said he accepted Ketami was handed the flare and said he was going to take an “unusual course of action”.

DDJ Morgan-Jones said: “I accept you have struggled to come to terms with this, it has caused you to be very distressed.

“It is not a normal sentence for this offence. Someone older and wiser would normally receive an immediate prison sentence.

“You will not get the benefit of the doubt again. Don’t let me down and don’t let yourself down.”

National League side Boreham Wood beat Cherries 1-0 to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.