ENGLAND WORLD CUP FAN TRESPASS CHARGES DROPPED

Charges against the England fan who walked into the players' dressing room after the World Cup match against Algeria have been dropped.

Cape Town Magistrates' Court heard that Pavlos Joseph, 32, from Crystal Palace, south London, paid a 750 rand (£65) admission of guilt fine on Tuesday.

He was accused of trespassing, but said he was only looking for a toilet.

The case against the Sunday Mirror's Simon Wright, who denies harbouring Joseph, has been delayed until 7 July.

The 44-year-old journalist is accused of sheltering Joseph from police and will appear charged with “defeating the ends of justice”.

He has been granted 3,000 rand (£260) bail and has had his passport confiscated.

Joseph's defence lawyer Craig Webster said an agreement had been reached that the charge of breaching the Fifa Special Regulations Act should be withdrawn.

Mr Webster said: “The director of public prosecution has decided to withdraw the charges on the basis that an admission of guilt fine is paid. A 750 rand fine was paid by the accused yesterday.”

'Orchestrated'
Joseph, who was accused of being in an area without being in possession of the necessary accreditation, was not in court.

Joseph entered the England dressing room at Cape Town's Green Point stadium after the team's 0-0 draw with Algeria on 18 June.

He claims he exchanged words with David Beckham before being escorted out.

National police commissioner Bheki Cele said Mr Wright had “admitted to harbouring and interviewing Mr Pavlos Joseph at a time when the police were searching for the latter in order to effect an arrest”.

The journalist is also accused of providing false information when he booked a hotel room for Joseph.

Mr Cele said police believed the incident was “orchestrated” in order “to put the World Cup security in a bad light”.

The Sunday Mirror said this was “entirely false” and their reporter had no dealings with Joseph before he entered the England changing room.