A MAN who threw a flare at a Wrexham away fixture has been banned from attending matches for five years.

Liam Nikolic, of Bryn Offa in the city, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Monday.

The 25-year-old admitted that in May 2021, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded a man named Dylan Hamblett.

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He also admitted that on February 7 this year, he threw a flare at or towards a playing area at a designated football match in Sheffield.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told the court that the first offence in time involved Nikolic running "some distance" to his victim in the centre of Wrexham before punching him "so hard" that he knocked him unconscious to the ground.

Mr Hamblett suffered a brain haemorrhage and a skull fracture in the incident, which was captured on CCTV.

As the starting point for sentence in such offences went beyond what the Magistrates court could impose, Mr Espie invited the bench to send the matter up to the crown court for sentence.

On the football offence, he explained Nikolic had attended as a Wrexham AFC away supporter at the club's match with Sheffield at Bramall Lane.

Mr Espie invited the court to consider imposing a football banning order.

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Alex Mackenzie, defending, told the court she did not oppose sending the wounding matter up to the Crown Court.

She said: "In terms of the football offence, on this occasion, the defendant behaved in an unusual manner.

"Other people were present who had the flares and he took a stupid decision to pick one up and try throwing it.

"I can't oppose the football banning order."

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The court handed down a £266 fine for throwing the missile, as well as ordering Nikolic to pay £85 costs and a £106 victim surcharge.

A football banning order was put in place for five years.

He will appear at Mold Crown Court on November 9 to be sentenced for the wounding matter.