SWANSEA MOB HAD LOOKED FOR FIGHT.
Byline: By Paul Maunder South Wales EchoA violent clash between rival football fans erupted after a mob of Swansea City hooligans took a detour in their mini-bus to raid a pub favoured by Cardiff City fans.
Cardiff Crown Court heard how the Swansea fans entered the Royal Exchange pub in Cowbridge Road, Canton, while taking a detour on their way back from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire after Swansea's away fixture was postponed.
Meanwhile, Cardiff City were held to a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest at Ninian Park on January 31, before the violence broke out later that day.
Richard Ace, prosecuting, told the court how a wave of fighting broke out inside the pub, which saw glasses and bottles being smashed, as well as an innocent regular being assaulted. The pub suffered pounds 1,400 worth of damage.
Violence spilled onto the streets, with Swansea supporters goading regulars to confront them.
One of the clash's instigators, Swansea fan Paul Kane, 23, of Brondeg, Manselton, Swansea, was jailed for 21 months and banned from football matches for six years after pleading guilty to violent disorder and criminal damage.
Arthur Pugh, 48, of St David's Crescent, Ely, was jailed for 12 months after admitting violent disorder. The court heard how Pugh threw a chair at Swansea fans outside the pub, and then kicked and punched a man.
John Simmonds, 48, of Picton Walk, Canton, was sentenced to 150 hours of community punishment after pleading guilty to affray. The court heard Simmonds walked out of the pub armed with a beer tray.
Judge Neil Bidder told Kane: 'You were a ringleader of that incident outside the pub. You were too cowardly to fight yourself so you attempted to encourage the mob behind you to do so.'
Mr Bidder then told Pugh and Simmonds: 'While you had not started the violence you came outside the pub, not in self defence, but prepared for confrontation.'
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| Publication: | South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales) |
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| Date: | Oct 15, 2004 |
| Words: | 320 |
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