by Football thugs have been told they should be ‘ashamed’ after Manchester United and Leeds fans got into ‘running battles’ in the city centre.
Three other fans were hauled before a judge after they were caught on camera as ugly scenes unfolded before a Premier League clash between the bitter rivals. Bosses at a branch of Cafe Nero locked their doors after supporters threw chairs and other items.
The fight broke out before police intervened and separated the thugs ahead of the match on Saturday evening, August 14, 2021. The trio, who appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday (November 5), were told that if they were to appeared in court months after the disorder, rather than three years later, they would ‘almost certainly’ have been locked up.
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But Judge Nicholas Dean KC said there would be ‘no deterrent value’ now that 22-year-old Alex Williams is in prison; Cameron Benn aged 24; and 27-year-old Connor Robertson. Instead they were ordered to do unpaid work and banned from attending football matches for three years.
Six men have previously appeared in court in connection with the disorder. They were also given suspended prison sentences.
James Hudson, prosecuting, said: “It was the first day of the football season and Leeds United were the visitors to Old Trafford for the afternoon kick-off. The violence happened around 10.30am.
“Leeds United fans got together and were drinking in Albert Square. Manchester United fans were walking along Princess Street towards Old Trafford.
“Both sets of fans were verbally abusive towards each other, and various items were thrown. The police acted quickly to prevent any further disorder and violence, and Manchester United fans were escorted along John Dalton Street and to Dean Gate.
“A group of Leeds fans made their way down Lloyd Street towards the Manchester United fans, some of whom broke free from the police cordon, to confront the opposing supporters. Much of what happened can be seen on CCTV and mobile phone footage as a large number of males engaged in physical violence outside Cafe Nero.
“Many items were thrown including chairs, traffic cones and signs, mugs, bottles and flares. Leeds fans took to Lloyd Street and the police were able to separate the two sets of fans and prevent any further violence.”
Benn was seen on film as part of a group of Leeds fans, picking up a road sign, before being thrown out. He was seen shouting and ‘gesticulating’ towards United fans, Mr Hudson said.
Leeds fan Robertson was seen throwing a chair at a group of opposition fans. Williams was seen by United fans picking up a ‘large piece of metal’ which he then threw away. The staff at Café Néar were ‘very upset’ by the incident.
Williams, of Inglewood Road, Chadderton; Benn, of Kingsbarn Drive, Stockport; and Robertson, of Heathfield Road; All pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Defending Williams, Sonya O’Brien said the defendant ‘deeply regrets his involvement’. She said the apprentice electrician had attended more than 100 football games since then without another incident.
As for Benn, Emily Calman said the defendant is employed and has a young child. She said he made ‘stupid choices’ on the day.
Defending Robertson, Charlotte Rimmer said the defendant, who works as an HGV technician, was a ‘highly skilled person’. She said the dad-of-three is the ‘sole breadwinner’ of his family.
The judge told the three: “You have now seen yourselves, not for the first time, on the CCTV and other images. I don’t know how you feel about what you saw. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
“You all have families. I don’t know if you have the imagination to put yourself, as it was, in Cafe Nero that day, looking at what is going on outside, maybe with children present with you.
“Even you may have been afraid of what you saw. This kind of violence perpetrated by football fans – whether in Manchester or elsewhere – is all too common.” But the judge continued: “There would be no purpose in sending one of you directly to the prison.
“There is no deterrent value in sending you straight to prison, which people think you deserve. If battles were to take place in Manchester city center it would certainly, if dealt with quickly, result in relatively short immediate sentences.”
Williams, Benn and Robertson were given 12-month prison sentences suspended for two years. They were all ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and made subject to football banning orders lasting three years.
