Grimsby Town fan Kenneth Meech found guilty of assaulting steward with inflatable shark

Meech was charged with common assault following the incident at The Hive

The Hive stadium, where a football steward was assaulted (Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

A Grimsby Town football fan has been convicted of assaulting a football steward with an inflatable shark.

Kenneth Meech, 51, from Cleethorpes, was celebrating his club’s 3-1 win against Barnet in a Conference match on 21 February, when he assaulted a steward from the opposing team.

Victim Cgagi Gladyng, 59, told Willesden Magistrates’ Court that Meech was waving the inflatable shark "like an axe" when it hit him, BBC News reported.

Meech, who was among 1,000 fans who travelled to watch the match at The Hive stadium, was arrested at the ground and taken to Harrow Police Station where he was charged with common assault, The Grimsby Telegraph reported.

The football fan denied the allegations, and said he did not recall striking the steward.

Meech has been handed a 12-month conditional discharge and must pay £700 in legal costs, and a £100 in compensation.

“I'm a bit deflated, to be honest,” he said, according to BBC News.