A man who conned his way into a VIP area at Wembley Stadium to watch the Champions League final with his young son may face prison after boasting about the stunt in national media, a court has heard.
Steven Carruthers, 34, from Hull, East Yorkshire, appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining services dishonestly. Prosecutors said Carruthers infiltrated the ultra-exclusive hospitality section of Wembley Stadium during the 2024 Champions League final, where he and his four-year-old son rubbed shoulders with global celebrities.
Wearing a suit in a bid to blend in with legitimate guests, Carruthers managed to gain access to seats that would have cost over £21,000. Once inside, he mingled with the likes of fashion icon Naomi Campbell and heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, among other high-profile figures.
Rachna Gokani, prosecuting, told the court: “The defendant involved his young son who was four years old at the time in order to assist his illegal entrance into the stadium. He dressed accordingly, in a suit, specifically to give the impression that he belonged in that hospitality area.”
Ms Gokani added that Carruthers later “advertised his offending” by speaking openly about it to both the Daily Mail and a football publication, proudly claiming he had successfully pulled off similar stunts in the past. “He showed no shame or remorse and was clearly proud of what he had accomplished,” she said, quoting a probation officer who assessed Carruthers prior to the hearing.
The exclusive hospitality zone Carruthers entered during the match—where Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on 1 June 2024—is normally off-limits to the general public. The court heard that the most expensive hospitality packages that day cost £10,900 per person, with Carruthers gaining access to an even higher tier intended solely for VIPs.
Ms Gokani added: “The Daily Mail article and Mr Carruthers himself refer to a cost of about £20,000 for tickets, so he is plainly aware of the levels we are dealing with.”
She also argued that Carruthers’ behaviour posed serious security concerns for the Football Association, especially in light of the chaos at the Euro 2020 final, when thousands of fans stormed the stadium. “The devastating events of that day are why they take offences such as this seriously. There are real risks in terms of disorder, health and safety, and the status of the stadium,” she said.
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Carruthers, representing himself in court, expressed remorse and said he feared for the impact a prison sentence would have on his children. “I’m regretful of what I did, it really does worry me about jail, to be honest,” he told the magistrates. “I don’t really want to ruin my kids’ future.”
Despite his apology, the court determined the offence was too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates’ level. Lead magistrate Laura Mee said the case would be referred to Harrow Crown Court for sentencing, as the offence exceeds the court’s sentencing powers. The maximum penalty for the offence is three years’ imprisonment.
As he left the dock, Carruthers commented: “I think it’s excessive, I’ve not hurt anyone.”
Sentencing at Harrow Crown Court will take place at a date yet to be determined.
