Double wammy for Stanley

Firstly it was Billy the Bull who alledgedly lost his kit, which had been paid for by Hereford United supporters, now it's Stan the Monkey who has been disowned by Accrington Stanley after his recent appearance in court. The revelation follows Stanley's defeat by Southport last night.

Stan the Monkey, (Accrington Stanley mascot Alan Smith) was branded a "pest" by a judge when he appeared in court on an indecency charge.

Smith, 51, admitted sexual activity with a girl under 16 in February last year.

As this is a family news site we will not publish any more details of the case, other than that Smith, of Carter Street, Accrington, was sentenced to six months imprisonment but as he had already been in custody for five-and-a-half months awaiting trial, he was immediately released. He was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years.

Accrington Stanley Chief Executive Rob Heys said after the case: "Alan Smith will never be our mascot again and he will not carry out any club duties.

"As a club, we are extremely disappointed to have been dragged into all this."

Smith made his debut as matchday mascot Stan the Monkey at a home game against Scarborough in August 2003.

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