Teen is fined after sharing personal details of referee in wake of penalty controversy

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A teenager who shared personal details of football referee John Beaton in the wake of a controversial penalty award has been fined.

Corey Davies, 19, used his role at motor firm Park’s of Hamilton to take a photo of a job card after Mr Beaton’s wife had dropped off her car for repairs.

It happened after a last-minute spot-kick awarded by Mr Beaton at Motherwell’s Fir Park helped Celtic run out 3-2 winners.

Davies sent an image of the job card into a Snapchat group with his friends before it was leaked further. The referee began receiving dozens of phone calls from unknown numbers and police were called in.

Mr Beaton and his family were forced to spend a night under police protection.

A probe was launched at Park’s which led Davies to admit taking the photo and he was sacked.

Davies, of Carluke, Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted breaching data protection laws.

Depute fiscal Cameron Murdoch told the court that due to the number of calls he received, Mr Beaton believed his number had been leaked.

Mr Murdoch said the SFA told the referee ‘that a member of staff at Park’s had been made aware that someone in his business had leaked his personal information which included his home address, his wife’s car registration and both their mobile numbers’.

Michael Poggi, defending, said: ‘He had access to data as part of his job but it was the actions of others that resulted in this information coming in to the wider public. There is no ill-will towards Mr Beaton but he still should not have taken this image or sent it.’

Sheriff John Hamilton, KC, told Davies it had been a ‘pretty immature and stupid thing to do.’

He added: ‘You have paid a heavy price for that and lost your job.’ Davies was fined £706, reduced from £1,000 to reflect his admission of guilt.

The SFA released a statement after the incident which said the safety of officials was being put at risk because of ‘vigilantism’. The governing body criticised fans, pundits, clubs, players, managers and former referees for their conduct towards match officials.

Park’s has been asked for comment.