FOUR Millwall fans have been given suspended prison sentences for their part in the violent clashes with Huddersfield Town supporters last year.

The scenes outside the Waterloo pub 13 months ago were yesterday described by a judge as “a disgraceful outburst of violent disorder”, but he said the disturbance was sparked by Town hooligans pelting three Millwall minibuses with bottles and glasses.

Bradford Crown Court heard that windows on the vehicles were smashed during the violence on Wakefield Road, Waterloo, and the occupants evacuated the minibuses fearing that they might be set alight by petrol bombs.

Judge Peter Benson said: “There then followed a scene of outrageous public violence during which some of the Huddersfield supporters equipped themselves with pool cues which they used to threaten or strike Millwall supporters.

“There were running fights and the exchange of kicks and blows and this disorder lasted for a period of several minutes.

“Three police officers arrived on the scene and they courageously did what they could to control matters, but they were hopelessly outnumbered.”

During the fighting before an evening match between the two sides in April last year, nearly £3,000 of damage was caused to the Millwall vehicles, a convenience store window was cracked and some motor vehicles were damaged.

Judge Benson has so far jailed six Huddersfield hooligans as part of Operation Triage, but yesterday the four Millwall followers all avoided immediate prison terms.

Gerald Storrie, 55, of Orpington, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years and was made the subject of a three-month night-time curfew. He was also ordered to pay costs of £1,050.