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Fighting football fans avoid jail | Fighting football fans avoid jail |
(40 minutes later) | |
Two rival football fans have escaped jail after taking part in a street battle between 100 fans in London. | Two rival football fans have escaped jail after taking part in a street battle between 100 fans in London. |
Stephen Bowden, 46, and Steven Davidson, 27, were among Chelsea and Tottenham fans who brawled after an FA Cup quarter final match in March 2007. | Stephen Bowden, 46, and Steven Davidson, 27, were among Chelsea and Tottenham fans who brawled after an FA Cup quarter final match in March 2007. |
Police said it was lucky no-one died in the clash in Parsons Green, south-west London, Blackfriars Crown Court heard. | |
Both men received 15-week jail sentences that were suspended for two years for violent disorder. | |
Judge Deva Pillay said: "By the jury's verdicts you were separately and individually found to have been involved but on a limited basis." | Judge Deva Pillay said: "By the jury's verdicts you were separately and individually found to have been involved but on a limited basis." |
'Dangerously outnumbered' | |
The disturbance began outside the White Horse pub in Parsons Green several hours after the three-all draw on 11 March 2007, the court heard. | |
Chelsea and Tottenham fans used knives, baseball bats, beer glasses, pool cues and furniture as weapons in the running confrontations with each other. | |
"During some stages of that disorder police were dangerously outnumbered," the judge said. | |
The battle resulted in six fans being taken to hospital with stab wounds and head injuries. | |
One, a German national, had been knifed in the buttocks. A total of 40 people were arrested. | |
Police told the court that both defendants had consumed "considerable amounts" of alcohol. | |
In addition to their suspended sentences, Bowden, from Sutton in Surrey, and Davidson, from Loughton in Essex, were banned from football matches for four years. | |
Spurs fan Davidson was also made subject to an 18-month supervision order and must undergo an alcohol treatment programme. | |
Chelsea supporter Bowden must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and undergo supervision for 12 months. |
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