A woman who was injured when a rival football fan fell from the upper tier of Portman Road has told a jury that she feared for her life after the impact. Joanne Peters, who suffers from scoliosis, was hit by 62‑year‑old John Ryan of Rochester Street, Chatham, Kent, during a January 2024 match between Ipswich Town and Maidstone United. Peters said the fall left her with whiplash, numbness in her hands and internal bruising, and she feared her neck might have broken.
Peters recounted that she was standing in the Cobbold Stand when Ryan, who was celebrating a goal in the FA Cup, slipped down a sloping roof and landed on the supporters below. “I thought the box behind us had collapsed into us,” she said, describing the moment as “terrifying” and “really scary.” She added that the pressure of the fall could have caused a broken neck.
The Crown Court heard that Ryan had been drinking five cans of lager before the match and that he had been drunk during the incident. His partner, Aaron Rose, told the jury that Ryan had been kicked in the back of the head and that he believed the man was intoxicated. Prosecutor Simon Gladwell questioned why Ryan had moved toward the roof during the celebration, suggesting he had done so deliberately. Ryan denied any intent to assault and said the momentum of his fall made him unable to stop himself.
Ryan is charged with one count of assault by beating and one count of actual bodily harm. A second count of assault by beating has been dropped. The jury is currently deliberating its verdicts. The case highlights the risks of standing in the upper tiers of football stadia and the potential consequences of fan behaviour during high‑profile matches.