CRYSTAL Palace supporter Matthew Simmons, the victim of Eric Cantona's kung-fu kick, was jailed yesterday for imitating the outburst in a courtroom attack on a lawyer.
Simmons, 21, leapt at prosecutor Jeffrey McCann, kicking him in the chest, after he was convicted of using threatening words and behaviour which sparked the Cantona incident.
The attack, in front of three magistrates at Croydon Magistrates Court, came moments after Simmons was found guilty of two charges of using threatening words and behaviour, at Selhurst Park, on January 25, 1995.
Mr McCann had just got to his feet and had begun to apply for an order to exclude him from football grounds, when Simmons leapt over a bench.
As police rushed forward, Simmons swung his legs over the bench, and appeared to kick Mr McCann in the chest. As he tried to get away, Simmons, arms and legs flailing, held tight to the back of his collar.
He shouted: ``I am innocent. I swear on the Bible.''
Mr McCann was freed and police led Simmons away in handcuffs.
Later, chairman of the Bench, Mrs Mary Richards, jailing Simmons for seven days for contempt of court, said: ``Your violent outburst today was an obvious and serious contempt of court. We feel a term of custody is appropriate.''
Simmons, of Thornton Heath, south London, was also fined #500 and ordered to pay #200 costs in relation to an earlier charge.
He had been charged with using threatening, obscene, or insulting words of behaviour likely to cause immediately unlawful violence by another person.
Magistrates ruled there should be no penalty for the second offence of using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm, or distress.
The magistrates also made an order excluding him from all football matches for a period of 12 months.
During the three-day hearing, Mr McCann had told magistrates that Manchester United star Cantona was provoked into launching the attack after Simmons taunted him with foul and abusive language.
He said that during the second half of the Premiership match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace, at Selhurst Park, Cantona had been sent off by the referee and was taunted before attacking Simmons.
Cantona was subsequently banned by France and Manchester United for the rest of the season. He was charged with common assault and jailed for two weeks, but the sentence was reduced on appeal to 120 hours' community service.
He was also suspended from all football up to and including September 30, 1995, and was fined #10,000 by an FA disciplinary commission.
Mr Adam Davis, defending Simmons, told the magistrates his client was sorry for his attack on Mr McCann.
``He would like to apologise to the court and to the members of the public, and especially to Mr McCann.
He said Simmons had been under immense pressure and had suffered death threats since the Cantona incident, and had been hospitalised as a result of a severe panic attack.
He said his client had not attempted to strike Mr McCann.
Mr Davis also drew attention to the length of time the magistrates took to reach their guilty verdict - they went out on Wednesday to consider their verdict, and then adjourned overnight.
``Having waited 22 hours for a decision, and having the pressure building and building, he snapped.''
Of yesterday's attack, Mr McCann told the court: ``I am content to accept his apology, I have no intention of pressing charges.''
In mitigation for the two offences of using threatening words and behaviour, Mr Davis said: ``I am sure you will bear in mind what happened to the other party in this matter.
``You will also bear in mind that Mr Simmons would not have found himself in the position he is today, but for Mr Cantona's actions.''
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