volved in mass fight with Sunderland supporters have bans lifted
WEDNESDAY 16TH MAR 2016
BY CRAIG
The three supporters were banned following violence in Sunderland city centre before a game against West Ham at the Stadium of Light
Football fans who were banned from matches after a mass fight with rival Sunderland supporters are to be allowed back to games.
West Ham supporters Danny Brooker, Charlie Adolph and Jamie Hume were among those who got involved in scenes of city centre violence before their teams clashed on the pitch in January 2013.
In February 2014, the three men were given suspended jail sentences, plus three-year football banning orders, for the parts they played in the fighting.
At Newcastle Crown Court the men, who did not attend in person, made an application for the bans to be lifted - a year before they are due to expire.
Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw objected to the bans being lifted and told the court: “Given the nature of the violence, it was highly planned, organised, was not spontaneous.
“This was Sunderland and West Ham.”
The court heard applicants can apply to have football bans, which can be imposed for between three and five years, lifted once they have served two thirds.
Mr Wardlaw added: “The crown take the view the order imposed was the shortest term that could be imposed and there appears to be no good reason why the order should be removed.”
The court heard for almost a year before the men received the suspended prison terms, they had to abide by strict bail conditions, which included and two-mile exclusion zone around any football stadium hosting a Premier League or England game.
Judge Jeremy Freedman said the time the men spent banned from matches because of the bail terms persuaded him to lift the banning orders with effect from March 14.
The judge said: “On the basis all three have served close to three years by way of football ban I am going to revoke the orders in all three cases.
“Their applications to revoke football banning orders is allowed.”
The brawl outside Revolution bar in Low Row, Sunderland, was captured on CCTV and led to both Sunderland and West Ham factions going through the courts.
Judge Jeremy Freedman told them at the time: “Although this was a terrifying incident for those who had the misfortune to witness it, it was of very short duration.
“This was a serious incident of violence.
“I am satisfied it was planned, arrangements had been made in advance of January 12 for their to be an encounter between West Ham and Sunderland supporters.
“I cannot say who was responsible for the planning but I am satisfied there was communication via telephone or Facebook.
“This fight was arranged.”
The court heard one witness to what went on said they felt “sick to the stomach” because of what they saw.
Charlie Adolph, 24, of Gibbons Close, St Albans, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 100 hours unpaid work. Jamie Hume, 31, of Clayburn Road, Hampton Centre, Peterborough, was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision. Danny Brooker, 25, of Priory Avenue, Harefield, Middlesex, was given two months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 100 hours unpaid work.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.