A FAMILY of football thugs are today behind bars after a violent attack at Huddersfield Town’s play-off match against Peterborough United in May.
Paul Barnett, 47, and his three sons Jordan Paul Barnett, 29, Joel Barnett, 21 and Jotham Darryl Barnett, 20 pleaded guilty to affray following violence at Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground that left two stewards with broken noses and another fan injured.
Yesterday Judge Bernard Lever described the event as a ‘tragedy’ and also issued them with a five-year ban from Huddersfield Town football matches.
Prosecuting barrister Nicoletta Amatino told Minshull Crown Court in Manchester how stewards had described the violence as “unlike anything they had ever experienced during their careers”.
She said: “At the Huddersfield Town and Peterborough United match, Paul Barnett and his three sons sat in the north area of the stadium reserved for supporters of Huddersfield Town.
“It was agreed by all that they had been drinking before the match and throughout, even had their alcohol confiscated from their seats.
“Other fans described a break-out towards the end of the game.
“Another football fan was assaulted by Jotham Barnett and had fallen to the ground. Jotham then continued to strike this man repeatedly.
“Paul Barnett and Joel were then seen pushing and grabbing other fans who were attempting to intervene.
“Two of the stewards from the ground tried to intervene. OneŠsteward suffered a broken nose and cuts and bruises to his face and also to his arms.
“The other suffered a broken nose and bruising to his face.’’
The fan originally injured by Jotham did not make a statement but was believed to have gone to hospital with swelling and cuts.
Miss Amatino continued: “Initially Joel Barnett appeared to be attempting to pull Jotham away from the assault. However, he then became involved in the disturbance as well.’’
The police were called and all four men, who work at the family stonemason business in Cleckheaton, were arrested.Š
Joel also pleaded guilty to a further charge of causing damage by defecating in a police van.
Robert Golinski defended Jotham, of Chaster Street, Batley. He said: “He is the youngest of all the defendants.
“He went to Old Trafford on that day with members of his family and drank too much alcohol.
“He slept through most of the match and only woke once the violence erupted.
“This incident has effectively woken him up to the fact that drinking and football don’t really mix.’’
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Jordan Barnett, of West Park Road, Batley, had appeared several times before the courts and according to the judge had a “bad record for violence.”
He was on licence at the time of the brutal attack which meant he was recalled to prison and missed the birth of his son in June.
He was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Joel, of Chaster Street, Batley, who was initially described as the ‘peacemaker’ was sentenced to 14 months for his involvement in the attack and a further two months for the damage caused to the police van.
Dad Paul Barnett, also of Chaster Street, was told by Judge Lever: “You are the father of those boys and it was your responsibility not to be roaring drunk and violent and contribute to this affair.
“A custodial sentence in your case is inevitable.”
He received an 18 months’ sentence as he had also been involved in a drink driving road rage incident in 2009.
His defending barrister, Mr Joe Rawlings, said that Paul Barnett runs a stonemasons business employing all three boys which he said “effectively pays the mortgage.”
He argued that should he go to prison, his wife, who is the acting book-keeper, would be unable to run the company.
Judge Lever said: “It is nothing short of a tragedy that four hard working men caused this terrible affray fuelled by drink and all ending up in prison.
“Not only do I feel for those people in the stands who had been shocked by the violence but also for your wife and mother who will have to suffer the consequences of your unlawful actions.”
Paul, Jotham and Joel will serve half their sentence with the second half on licence.
For the next five years, all men are banned from:
Entering any football stadium in England or Wales.
They must not enter within one mile of the Galpharm Stadium three hours before and after a match.
They must not travel to any city where Huddersfield Town play a match.
They must not attend any site where an England national game is taking placeŠ
They must issue a notice of change of address to the courts.
After the case, Det Con Chris Aunins from Trafford CID, said: “Instead of enjoying the occasion of a play-off final, a father and his three sons launched unprovoked and violent assaults on their fellow supporters, stewards and the police.
“They did not give a second thought to the safety of others inside the ground and undoubtedly left many young children who witnessed their actions extremely frightened.
“I hope today’s sentence sends a clear warning that football violence will not be tolerated and anyone found to have committed such offences faces being banned from every stadium in the country for several years.”
