Football Fan Busted with Cocaine Outside Priestfield Stadium
Kent Police staged a drug sweep outside Priestfield Stadium on Saturday, 2 December 2023, ahead of Gillingham’s FA Cup clash against Charlton Athletic. Drug detection dogs were on patrol, sniffing out trouble before kick-off.
Dog Sniffs Out Drug Offender Pre-Match
A man arriving with his child and friend caught the attention of Police Dog Dougal just before the game started. After being stopped, the 31-year-old from Chatham was searched and caught dropping a small packet of white powder — confirmed to be cocaine — onto the floor.
Arrest and Court Sentence
The man was arrested and charged with possession of a Class A drug. He claimed he’d forgotten the cocaine had been in his pocket for weeks and insisted he had no plans to use it inside the stadium.
On 17 January 2024 at Medway Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty and was handed an 18-month conditional discharge. Plus, a Football Banning Order bans him from attending any regulated matches for the next three years.
Kent Police Back Family-Friendly Football
Chief Inspector Alan Rogers, Kent Police’s Tactical Operations Command, said: “Gillingham FC and football clubs across Kent are determined to keep matchdays family-friendly. Making the stadium a no-go zone for drug users is key.”
“We support these efforts to stamp out illegal substances and will run similar operations at Priestfield in the future. Anyone thinking of taking drugs to a match should take this as a serious warning — it could cost you years of football.”
