Paul Mitchell may have got a fair dig in on ex-Ireland U21 star Jack Grealish yesterday, during the Second City Derby yesterday afternoon, but his notoriety has come at a cost - pardon the pun.
The 27-year-old, from Rubery in Worcestershire, will spend the next 14 weeks in jail after pleading guilty to charges of assault on the Aston Villa captain and encroachment on to the St. Andrew's pitch, during Birmingham City's 1-0 home defeat to their arch-rivals on Sunday.
The father-of-one will also pay £350 in costs and has been served with a 10-year football banning order, having dodged stewards before aiming a right hook at Grealish from behind, with the game just over ten minutes old.
Grealish, unhurt in the incident, would pick himself from the turf to grab Villa's winner in the second half, propelling Dean Smith's side to within four points of the playoffs.
The cream always rises... ⚽️ #AVFC pic.twitter.com/4C0TOSSjZw
— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish) March 10, 2019
Mitchell's solicitor told Birmingham Magistrates Court this afternoon that his client simply wanted to get on to the pitch to "whip up the crowd".
He cannot explain what came over him yesterday morning.
His initial foolish intention was to just go on to the pitch and whip up the crowd.
Solihull lad Grealish, who controversially switched international allegiances to England in 2015, having represented the Republic at U17, U18 and U21 level, was not in court but did have a statement read on his behalf by Prosecutor, Jonathan Purser.
Mr Purser said the 23-year-old felt very lucky that Mr Mitchell had not been carrying a weapon of any sort.
Birmingham City football club have been quick to reprimand Mitchell also, issuing a lifetime ban to the Blues supporter.
What happened has no place in football or society. Jack is a Birmingham lad and regardless of club allegiance should not have been subjected to this - there are no excuses.
The club can confirm that Mr Mitchell is banned from our home ground, the St. Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium, for life. And nor will he have access to purchase tickets for away games involving Birmingham City Football Club, or have tickets purchased on his behalf.
Birmingham City FC rejects all forms of anti-social behaviour. We will not tolerate the kind of incidents we have seen during and since Sunday's derby fixture against Aston Villa Football Club.
It was revealed in court that Mitchell and his family have had to move out of the Birmingham area after the Dad was in receipt of death threats after yesterday's game.
Despite the 14 week sentence, Mitchell could potentially be released from prison as early as May.
