Man jailed for throwing seat that injured Aberdeen player

An Aberdeen supporter who threw part of a chair that hit and injured one of the team's players at a match in Dundee has been jailed for 18 months.

Ultras Aberdeen member David Gowans' actions resulted in a deep laceration to Jack MacKenzie's left eye and an abrasion to his face.

The incident took place after the club's Scottish Premiership defeat against Dundee United on 17 May last year.

A sheriff told Gowans, who was also given a ten-year football banning order, that his actions had been "selfish, stupid, dangerous and utterly irresponsible."

Gowans, 32, previously admitted acting in a culpable and reckless manner which caused the defender severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Dundee Sheriff Court was told in November that Gowans has been banned from attending Aberdeen games for life by the club.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael said that it had been ironic that Gowans had been near the Jim McLean Fair Play Stand at the time of the incident.

The sheriff told him: "What you did could have sparked a crowd disturbance.

"Luckily it did not cause any further trouble."

He said that Gowans had been reluctant to contact police after the incident, and only did so "because he knew the game was up."

The court was previously shown CCTV footage showing a pitch invasion by Dundee United fans after the club secured European football.

Depute fiscal Lee Corr told the court that MacKenzie was walking towards the Aberdeen support to applaud them for their support when he was struck by the seat.

A witness in the stand housing Aberdeen supporters saw Gowans pick up a piece of broken chair and throw it. Seconds later it hit MacKenzie.

After the match, the court was told that Gowans contacted Aberdeen's supporter liaison officer Lynn Fiske and told her: "I've got to be honest, the chair was me."

But he added he had "no idea" who it had hit.

Larry Flynn, defending, said Gowans was "extremely embarrassed" by his actions.

He said: "He has not gone to a football match since, and it has had a significant impact on his life.

Flynn said his client was suspended by his employers in November and no longer works in the oil industry.

He added: "This has been a very sharp learning curve for him.

"Mr Gowans is an intelligent man and he has not led an antisocial life."

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