Two West Ham fans face trial on racially aggravated harassment charge

Two West Ham fans are facing a trial next year accused of racially aggravated harassment while en route to a match in Europe.

Lee Carey, 56, and 31-year-old Jak Bruce are accused of directing chants towards a man in Orthodox Jewish dress on a flight from Stansted Airport to Eindhoven in the Netherlands on November 4 last year.

Essex Police said the pair were travelling to a game against Belgian side Genk.

Neither Carey, of Romford, east London, nor Bruce, of Dartford, Kent, have been asked to enter a plea at Chelmsford Crown Court, but both indicated they would deny the alleged public order offence at an earlier magistrates’ court hearing.

Judge Mary Loram QC bailed both defendants until their trial, which is due to begin in the week of February 27 with a time estimate of three days.

She set a further administrative hearing on June 13 to address the issue of jurisdiction.