Football yobs run riot in pub after local derby

Glasses, stools and beer barrels were used as "missiles" when groups of Baggies and Wolves football fans clashed with each other and riot police at a Black Country pub.

Customers with young children and babies feared for their safety during violent scenes which erupted after a Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Wolves.

Eight men, all Baggies supporters, have admitted their involvement in the brawl at the Tamebridge pub in Great Bridge and were remanded in custody by a judge to be sentenced on Monday.

Prosecutor Miss Madhu Rai told Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday that the disorder followed the local derby on February 20.

At about 5pm, five Wolves fans walked into the pub and started chanting towards a group of Albion supporters who were stood near the bar.

They then launched glasses and stools like "missiles" towards the Wolves group and forced them out of the pub, said Miss Rai.

The gang of Albion fans moved to the beer garden when police arrived, with some throwing whatever they could get their hands on at officers.

Miss Rai told the court that Stephen Whitehouse, 37, of Birchfield Way, Yew Tree, was one of the "main aggressors". He was involved in the trouble inside the pub and in the beer garden. He threw a beer barrel towards officers.

And a video shown to the court showed Shaun Lyndon Bennett, 33, of Fountain Lane, Coseley, throw items at officers while Stephen Cox, 34, of Whitley Crescent, Rowley Regis, was spotted throwing a beer barrel over a fence at police.

Nathan Painter, aged 22 of Moxley Road, Darlaston, was caught on CCTV "striking out" while Ricky Wright, 30 of Arthur Street, West Bromwich, was identified throwing punches.

James Steven John Wiles, 24, of Broadwaters Road, Darlaston, threw an object into the crowd and Neil Craig Sutera, 34 of Radford Lane, Castlecroft, was also involved in the scuffle.

Jason Richard Harris aged 40, of Abbey Close, Tantany, West Bromwich threw a chair in the pub.

All admitted affray. Bennett also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of assault relating to an incident at a pub in Tipton in February.