Three fined for England rugby coach Eddie Jones abuse

Eddie Jones Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Eddie Jones had been asked to pose for photos the day after Scotland beat England in the Six Nations

Three men have been fined for verbally abusing England rugby union coach Eddie Jones at a railway station.

They hurled foul-mouthed taunts at Mr Jones, 58, in Manchester on 25 February, the day after Scotland beat England 25-13 in the Six Nations.

Richie Cleeton, 22, Connor Inglis, 25, and Brett Grant, 23, all pleaded guilty to a public order offence at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

Chairman of the bench Joe Bangudu said their language "was vile".

Footage released online showed the trio, all from Edinburgh, approaching Jones for a photograph as he left Manchester Oxford Road railway station to catch a waiting car.

One of the men then shouted "what about last night" and repeatedly swore at Mr Jones using offensive language as he was ushered into a vehicle by his driver.

'Disgraceful'

The court heard Grant prolonged the incident by opening the car door once Mr Jones was inside.

Mr Bangudu said the men chose "a public vicinity" to display their "drunken behaviour" and had shown no remorse.

He described the abuse a "short-lived but disgraceful" and said "no-one should ever have to put up with such language and behaviour".

"Your language, although described by your defence as industrial, we think was vile and therefore unacceptable directed to anybody."

The men admitted using threatening abusive words and behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Cleeton, of Carrick Knowe Avenue, was fined £120, Inglis, of Cornhill Terrace, received a fine of £105 and Grant, of Drum Crescent, was fined £140.

All three were also ordered to pay court costs of £115 each.

A fourth defendant, Dale Cleeton, 25, also of Carrick Knowe Avenue, pleaded not guilty to the same offence and will go on trial in August.