Men in court for violence after Huddersfield Town v Leeds United game
FOOTBALL fans who got caught up in violence after a Huddersfield Town match were hauled before magistrates.
The six men appeared at Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court charged with football-related disorder under the Public Order Act.
They were involved in brawls throughout the town centre which erupted after Town’s clash with Leeds United on February 14.
But because the violence happened some hours after the Galpharm Stadium game, magistrates decided not to use their power to ban the fans from future games.
The court heard that there were five disturbances on the day, which police said were caused by football fans returning back into town and drinking as they celebrated Town’s victory over Leeds.
Magistrates heard that police were called to break up a nasty brawl that erupted at The Wellington pub on Westgate at around 8pm, where glasses were smashed and drinkers suffered head injuries.
Robert Haigh, 30, was sentenced to a 12 month community order after pleading guilty to his part in the incident.
Haigh, of Longwood, was seen on CCTV being restrained by the landlord, picking up chairs to fend off others and punching his brother to the floor as he tried to drag him away from the fight.
Michael Sisson-Pell, defending, said he had been drinking with friends in the pub after the match when two started fighting and the violence escalated.
He said Haigh became involved when he tried to pull people apart.
He said: "Most of the people involved in this were celebrating Huddersfield beating Leeds and many of them were the worse for wear.
"But this was a long time after the football and wasn’t football related – it wasn’t groups of supporters fighting with each other."
Magistrates also ordered Haigh to pay £60 costs. His brother Simon and Jonathan Burnand were also charged with threatening behaviour but pleaded not guilty and will be heard at a later date.
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