A defendant has been given a red card over attending football matches after he admitted violent disorder in Nottingham city centre. Violence flared ahead of Nottingham Forest's 4-1 FA Cup victory over Leicester City on February 6 and Craig Jones, aged 23, of Arden Avenue, Leicester, appeared before Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, May 6, and entered a guilty plea.
His strict bail conditions now include a ban from attending any town or city on the day Leicester City are playing, not to go to Nottinghamshire - except to attend court - and not to associate with his co-defendants and to live at his address. He was granted bail with a copy of the order until sentencing with his co-accused on July 22.
The court heard he has a previous conviction for violent disorder in September 2018 which Jones told the court was a group in town and, "a bit of an altercation with a doorman in Leicester" and not football-related. He went to custody for 22 months for that offence.
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His plea comes after three men admitted they were involved in the same incident. Craig Flint, aged 40, of Silver Street, Whitwick, Leicestershire; Tyrone Smith, aged 37, of Central Road, Leicester; Neil Munden, aged 53, of Winforde Crescent, Leicester; appeared alongside each other at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, April 19.
One by one they entered their pleas to the single charge of violent disorder - where they used or threatened violence when present together with others - following the disturbing incident which was captured on CCTV. The court heard others participated but were not identified and brought before the courts.
A full outline of the case against them, and mitigation, will be heard when they attend a half-day sentencing hearing on July 22. Pre-sentence reports have been requested. On the guidelines, the prosecution said it is likely to pitch sentencing at a two-year starting point, and will make applications for football banning orders.
Nottinghamshire Police previously issued a statement in which they say they arrested four men during a series of dawn raids in Leicestershire in March over violent disorder outside the Fat Cat bar in Chapel Bar, Nottingham.
The incident happened shortly after 1.45pm on February 6, ahead of the Nottingham Forest versus Leicester City FA Cup fourth round tie played at the City Ground. Officers were called to the scene after it was reported a group of Leicester City fans threw chairs and a table at the bar’s windows.
Following police enquiries to identify suspects involved, including trawling through CCTV footage and social media, a number of warrants were executed at addresses in Leicestershire – resulting in four arrests. A fifth suspect was arrested on Monday, March 14.
Detective Sergeant Jon Kerry, of Nottinghamshire Police, had said: “While the majority of people who attended the match were genuine supporters, were well behaved and had an enjoyable time, unfortunately there were a small number who were intent on causing harm. This will not be tolerated in our city. "
Anyone who witnessed this incident or who has any CCTV, mobile phone or dash-cam footage which could assist the police with their investigation is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident 182 of 6 February 2022, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
