Football banning orders for Wolves fans

Stephen Brown, aged 43, Stephen Hackett, 48, Jack Harris, 20 and Ryan Boyd, 21, were all outside The Feathers pub when trouble flared after Wolves home game with Sheffield United on September 28 last year.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the four Wolves supporters were among a large group of fans who gathered outside the pub following their team's 2-0 win.

A cordon of police was in position to keep them apart from a group of rival Sheffield United fans - which included a number of known hooligans - who had congregated in Molineux Street opposite the pub.

Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, said Boyd was seen gesturing towards police with his arms raised when a flare became activated, inciting him to gesticulate even more furiously.

"Brown was engaging in a confrontation with his arms outstretched in an offensive manner," continued the prosecutor.

Hackett, who the court was told has 37 previous offences and had received a three year football banning order in March 2008, was seen towards the front of the group gesticulating and shouting, 'Come on, f**king come on. Bring it on'.

Mr Searle added that Harris, who was also spotted by officers outside the pub extending his arms to the side, was later filmed on CCTV at the scene of a second disturbance at the junction of the ring road and Stafford Road.

Defending unemployed Boyd, Miss Laura Hobson said the incident had taught him a 'salutary lesson'.

Brown's behaviour was said to be influenced by alcohol, while Ms Lara Akande told the court Harris, a leisure centre lifeguard, had attended Wolves games for 15 years and had not previously been in trouble.

Scaffolder Hackett, who represented himself at the hearing, offered no excuse for his behaviour.

Recorder Mr Martin Wasik, told the defendants: "This is not the worst case I have come across by any means, but there was still a significant degree of disorder."

Hackett, of Goodyear Avenue, Low Hill, Wolverhampton and Brown, of Martley Road, Oldbury, both admitted using threatening behaviour and were banned from attending football matches for four years. They were both fined £600.

Boyd, of Red Kite Close, Leegomery, Telford and Harris, of Lichfield Road, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, both pleaded guilty to the same charge and were banned from attending football matches for three years.

Both men were also given a 12-month community order with supervision and 60 hours of unpaid work.

All four defendants were ordered to pay £100 costs and a £60 statutory surcharge.