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.

He was shown on CCTV footage repeatedly kicking at a man who was lying in the gutter. Judge Benson said he would have been jailed but for the fact that he was a man of good character who now had very serious health problems.

Paul Cremin, 36, of London, also admitted violent disorder. The court heard he had a previous conviction for football-related violence back in 1998. He was involved in the fighting, but the judge said his 12-month jail term could also be suspended for two years.

Cremin will have to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community and pay £1,050 costs.

Darren Dunphy, 30, of Welling, admitted violent disorder. He also had no previous convictions.

He was said to have suffered a fractured wrist during the disturbance, but the judge said that was his own fault.

His 10-month prison sentence was suspended for two years and he will have to do 160 hours unpaid work.

Cremin must pay £375 costs after he pleaded guilty at an earlier stage of the proceedings than his co-accused.

Dean Harrison, 35, of London, pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

He had no relevant previous convictions and his 10-month jail term was suspended for two years.

He must do 180 hours unpaid work and pay £1,050 costs.

Storrie, Dunphy and Cremin were all made the subject of four-year football banning orders.

Harrison did not have an order made against him because of his son’s footballing activities.