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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hooligans get suspended sentences | Hooligans get suspended sentences |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Four Middlesbrough football fans who attacked a group of Chelsea supporters on a train have been given suspended jail sentences. | Four Middlesbrough football fans who attacked a group of Chelsea supporters on a train have been given suspended jail sentences. |
| During the assault last October, as the train approached Thornaby, one of them threw 24 separate punches. | During the assault last October, as the train approached Thornaby, one of them threw 24 separate punches. |
| All four men, aged between 28 and 47, had earlier pleaded guilty to affray. | All four men, aged between 28 and 47, had earlier pleaded guilty to affray. |
| The judge at Teesside Crown Court said they had behaved like "mindless teenagers", and they had only narrowly escaped being sent to jail. | The judge at Teesside Crown Court said they had behaved like "mindless teenagers", and they had only narrowly escaped being sent to jail. |
| John James, 29, from Scarborough Lane, Tingley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and his uncle Kevin Walker, 47, from Welland Crescent, in Stockton, appeared to play the largest role in the fighting, which was captured on CCTV. You are not teenage hooligans, each of you has responsible jobs Judge John Bowers | John James, 29, from Scarborough Lane, Tingley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and his uncle Kevin Walker, 47, from Welland Crescent, in Stockton, appeared to play the largest role in the fighting, which was captured on CCTV. You are not teenage hooligans, each of you has responsible jobs Judge John Bowers |
| The pair were joined by Jamie Dea, 28, of Norton Drive in Stockton, and Jamie Westwood, 31, of Chiltern Close, also in the town. | The pair were joined by Jamie Dea, 28, of Norton Drive in Stockton, and Jamie Westwood, 31, of Chiltern Close, also in the town. |
| The court heard they targeted members of the York Chelsea Supporters Club - including a couple, a middle-aged fan who had only one eye, and a teenager - after light-hearted banter turned sour. | The court heard they targeted members of the York Chelsea Supporters Club - including a couple, a middle-aged fan who had only one eye, and a teenager - after light-hearted banter turned sour. |
| A woman was punched in the face and had her glasses stamped on then thrown in her husband's face. | A woman was punched in the face and had her glasses stamped on then thrown in her husband's face. |
| The victims suffered grazes and bruises, but none were seriously hurt. | The victims suffered grazes and bruises, but none were seriously hurt. |
| James received a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years, and Walker was given a 12-month suspended sentence. | James received a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years, and Walker was given a 12-month suspended sentence. |
| 'Great disrepute' | 'Great disrepute' |
| Dea and Westwood each received eight-month suspended sentences. | Dea and Westwood each received eight-month suspended sentences. |
| The four were ordered to carry out unpaid community work and pay their victims compensation amounting to hundreds of pounds. | The four were ordered to carry out unpaid community work and pay their victims compensation amounting to hundreds of pounds. |
| They were also banned from attending football matches for five years. Middlesbrough has already banned each of them from the Riverside stadium for life. | They were also banned from attending football matches for five years. Middlesbrough has already banned each of them from the Riverside stadium for life. |
| Judge Peter Bowers said: "You are not teenage hooligans, each of you has responsible jobs, you earn decent money, you have all got partners, mortgages and children to look after who depend on you." | Judge Peter Bowers said: "You are not teenage hooligans, each of you has responsible jobs, you earn decent money, you have all got partners, mortgages and children to look after who depend on you." |
| He added that he was "agonising" over sending them to prison because of the effect it would have on other people. | |
| "You did not think of the consequences to your families when you engaged in this action, you were not thinking about them, should you get locked up," he said. | "You did not think of the consequences to your families when you engaged in this action, you were not thinking about them, should you get locked up," he said. |
| "This sort of behaviour brings ordinary regular supporters into great disrepute." | "This sort of behaviour brings ordinary regular supporters into great disrepute." |