Judge warns fan for wearing Newcastle shirt to court

2:18pm Friday 9th May 2008

A NEWCASTLE United fan was warned by a judge today that some of his fellow judges were Middlesbrough supporters.

Judge Peter Bowers told Steven Barker, 17, who was wearing a Magpies shirt at Teesside Crown Court: "I wouldn't wear that for your next appearance.

"Some of the other judges here are Middlesbrough fans. I'm a Sunderland supporter myself."

Barker's mother, who was with him at the Middlesbrough court, laughingly told her son: "You'll have to get a Middlesbrough shirt for next time."

Barker of Ormesby Road, Hartlepool, was remanded on bail until July 4 to plead to a charge of reckless arson to a wheelie bin, front door and porch of a house in Hartlepool.