Metallica Fan Charged With Trespass

A METALLICA fan has been hauled into court on trespassing charges after he impersonated a member of staff and sneaked backstage at one of the band’s gigs in New Zealand.

Student Christopher John Sage has admitted scaling a fence shortly before a Metallica concert in Christchurch on 22 September (10) and gaining access to a restricted area in a bid to meet his idols.

Sage pretended to be an employee working at the event and was given a uniform, but his ploy was foiled when he failed to show identification and staff called police.

The 19 year old appeared at Christchurch District Court on Monday (04Oct10) and police prosecutor Sergeant John Taylor told the hearing about Sage’s attempt to meet Metallic.

He said, “The defendant pretended he was a member of staff and was given a uniform. He then attempted to gain entry to the back area of the stadium.”

Venue boss Bryan Pearson, of the Vbase stadium, was also in court and revealed he has upgraded security protocols in the wake of the breach.

He said, “Needless to say, we reviewed our various procedures and are confident in the various practices we have in place.”

Sage admitted being unlawfully in a yard, according to Stuff.co.nz. He was placed on a diversion program, which offers first-time offenders a chance to avoid prosecution by fulfilling certain conditions.