Post by GasHeadGaz on Sept 11, 2014 8:35:39 GMT
A JUDGE says the pitch invasion and disorder that followed Bristol Rovers' relegation last season "brought shame on the city" and risks putting families off going to watch matches live.
District Judge Lynne Matthews repeatedly emphasised how seriously she is treating the ugly scenes in and around the Memorial Stadium on May 3, as she dealt with the first dozen out of 29 men who have been charged.
One man was jailed and three given suspended sentences at Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday as eight Rovers fans admitted offences, two were found guilty and two denied the charges against them.
Condemning those involved as "hooligans", Ms Matthews said: "This was an incident of serious public disorder, which involved hundreds of people invading the pitch.
"These disgraceful images were broadcast across the UK and across the world, and have brought shame on this city."
Rovers were relegated from the Football League for the first time in 94 years when they lost 1-0 to Mansfield Town on the last day of the League Two season.
Several hundred angry and frustrated fans then invaded the pitch. Some directed their anger at the club's board – but soon their attention was drawn to the away fans, who could be heard chanting about Rovers "going down".
The court heard how many Rovers fans became more aggressive once they spotted some people wearing the shirts of arch-rivals Bristol City in the away end.
Police tried to contain the invaders on the pitch and keep them away from the Mansfield fans. They did the same in the club car park and videos played in court showed that, in both areas, fans were hit with police batons but officers were also hit by fans.
Following the disorder, Avon and Somerset police worked with the football club and enlisted the help of the Bristol Post to identify people who were recorded misbehaving on police and television cameras.
Liam Berryman, 20, of Romney Avenue, Lockleaze; Stephen Broad, 31, of Montpelier Court, Montpelier; Lee Thorne, 34, of Kenn Close, Weston-super-Mare; and Nicholas Wooldridge, 24, of Homemead, Longwell Green, each admitted invading the pitch and using threatening words or behaviour. Berryman, Broad and Wooldridge were all given six-week suspended jail sentences, with Berryman and Broad also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
The four men were given football banning orders, banning them from attending any organised football matches in the UK, and they have to give their passports to police whenever England play.
Broad, Berryman and Wooldridge got five year orders and Thorne got a six year order.
Thorne was sent to prison for six weeks, as District Judge Matthews deemed he was involved in a "tussle" on the pitch in which police were struck.
Mitigating, Mark Linehan, said although Thorne was in that group, he was not responsible for any punches or kicks. He appealed the severity of the sentence, and a bail hearing pending that appeal will take place today.
James Mallett, 25, of Moravian Road, Kingswood, and John Smart, 49, of King Street, Kingswood, denied using threatening words and behaviour, claiming that they only swore at police after being angered by an officer hitting several fans – including Smart – with batons in the car park. But both were both found guilty.
A total of 29 fans have been charged to date, all but one followers of Rovers. Also, two men have been conditionally cautioned for section four public disorder and have had their attendance at football matches restricted.
The police are still determined to identify other people who invaded the pitch and were involved in trouble after the game. There are still 10 unidentified suspects, whose images have been previously released.
Others who appeared in court yesterday:
Ashley Eyles, 19, of Tidenham Way, Patchway; Lee Jackman, 25, of Silverhill Road, Henbury; and Robert Scott, 26, of Filton Avenue, Horfield; have admitted using
threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, and invading the pitch.
Michael Whitbread, 30, of Swanmoor Crescent, Brentry, admitted pitch invasion and affray on a basis that will be submitted to the prosecution within a week.
Raymond Mighty, 52, of Musgrove Close, Lawrence Weston, denies using threatening words or behaviour against a police officer who was on duty that day. He did not enter a
plea to a pitch invasion charge.
Jason Goodfield, 27, of North View, Staple Hill, denies affray and did not enter a plea to pitch invasion.
Outstanding convicted defendants will be sentenced by District Judge Matthews on September 26
District Judge Lynne Matthews repeatedly emphasised how seriously she is treating the ugly scenes in and around the Memorial Stadium on May 3, as she dealt with the first dozen out of 29 men who have been charged.
One man was jailed and three given suspended sentences at Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday as eight Rovers fans admitted offences, two were found guilty and two denied the charges against them.
Condemning those involved as "hooligans", Ms Matthews said: "This was an incident of serious public disorder, which involved hundreds of people invading the pitch.
"These disgraceful images were broadcast across the UK and across the world, and have brought shame on this city."
Rovers were relegated from the Football League for the first time in 94 years when they lost 1-0 to Mansfield Town on the last day of the League Two season.
Several hundred angry and frustrated fans then invaded the pitch. Some directed their anger at the club's board – but soon their attention was drawn to the away fans, who could be heard chanting about Rovers "going down".
The court heard how many Rovers fans became more aggressive once they spotted some people wearing the shirts of arch-rivals Bristol City in the away end.
Police tried to contain the invaders on the pitch and keep them away from the Mansfield fans. They did the same in the club car park and videos played in court showed that, in both areas, fans were hit with police batons but officers were also hit by fans.
Following the disorder, Avon and Somerset police worked with the football club and enlisted the help of the Bristol Post to identify people who were recorded misbehaving on police and television cameras.
Liam Berryman, 20, of Romney Avenue, Lockleaze; Stephen Broad, 31, of Montpelier Court, Montpelier; Lee Thorne, 34, of Kenn Close, Weston-super-Mare; and Nicholas Wooldridge, 24, of Homemead, Longwell Green, each admitted invading the pitch and using threatening words or behaviour. Berryman, Broad and Wooldridge were all given six-week suspended jail sentences, with Berryman and Broad also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
The four men were given football banning orders, banning them from attending any organised football matches in the UK, and they have to give their passports to police whenever England play.
Broad, Berryman and Wooldridge got five year orders and Thorne got a six year order.
Thorne was sent to prison for six weeks, as District Judge Matthews deemed he was involved in a "tussle" on the pitch in which police were struck.
Mitigating, Mark Linehan, said although Thorne was in that group, he was not responsible for any punches or kicks. He appealed the severity of the sentence, and a bail hearing pending that appeal will take place today.
James Mallett, 25, of Moravian Road, Kingswood, and John Smart, 49, of King Street, Kingswood, denied using threatening words and behaviour, claiming that they only swore at police after being angered by an officer hitting several fans – including Smart – with batons in the car park. But both were both found guilty.
A total of 29 fans have been charged to date, all but one followers of Rovers. Also, two men have been conditionally cautioned for section four public disorder and have had their attendance at football matches restricted.
The police are still determined to identify other people who invaded the pitch and were involved in trouble after the game. There are still 10 unidentified suspects, whose images have been previously released.
Others who appeared in court yesterday:
Ashley Eyles, 19, of Tidenham Way, Patchway; Lee Jackman, 25, of Silverhill Road, Henbury; and Robert Scott, 26, of Filton Avenue, Horfield; have admitted using
threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, and invading the pitch.
Michael Whitbread, 30, of Swanmoor Crescent, Brentry, admitted pitch invasion and affray on a basis that will be submitted to the prosecution within a week.
Raymond Mighty, 52, of Musgrove Close, Lawrence Weston, denies using threatening words or behaviour against a police officer who was on duty that day. He did not enter a
plea to a pitch invasion charge.
Jason Goodfield, 27, of North View, Staple Hill, denies affray and did not enter a plea to pitch invasion.
Outstanding convicted defendants will be sentenced by District Judge Matthews on September 26
