Five more Manchester United fans who participated in ‘childlike' behaviour when a protest turned violent before a Premier League clash with Liverpool have avoided jail. Thousands of fans descended on Old Trafford on May 2 last year to protest the Glazer’s ownership of the club which quickly deteriorated into some engaging in drunken violence against police officers.
One officer was ‘seriously injured’ and the game had to be postponed after fans clashed with police and stewards, with dozens of fans breaking into the stadium and throwing bottles and cans during the fracas. Three United supporters were sentenced for their part in the chaos earlier this week, with five more sentenced at Manchester Crown Court today. There are 40 defendants overall being hauled before the court after pleading guilty to violent disorder and other offences.
Dylan Blood, of Salford, Ben Cowlishaw, of Trafford, Robert Edwards, of Worsley, Jake Collins, of Eccles, and Simon Wright, of Sandbach, have all avoided jail for their part in the violent disorder, which ranged from throwing bottles at officers, spitting at officers, jumping on cars, and ripping the wing mirror off of a police van. All of this was caught on various CCTV cameras, which Judge Patrick Field KC told them they should be “ashamed” of watching back.
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The protest started with flares were being let off, songs were sung and flags were displayed, with the protest initially being peaceful, prosecutor David Lees said. But at about 2pm some protestors breached security barriers and tried to force open the gates to the Munich tunnel.
Protestors forced their way into the stadium and onto the pitch, with CCTV played to the court showing Edwards climbing on seat covers, putting a cone on his head, and chanting before being led out out of the stadium. After fans were removed from the stadium this second time outside scenes became 'increasingly vociferous and violent', the prosecutor said.
This was where bottles and cans, as well as metal barriers, were thrown at police and other staff, with these defendants involved in ‘disgraceful’ behaviour. Mr Lees said 35 assaults against police officers and security staff were recorded.
Another officer was kicked to the testicles, one was cut after being showered by broken glass, and another was hit in the head by a glass bottle. A police horse was hit in the face by a bottle, but was protected by its visor. Violence then spilled onto Sir Matt Busby Way and Chester Road, where motorists were blocked from driving and protestors slapped and shook vehicles.
Wright, 27, could be seen at the front of a crowd near the Munich Tunnel of the ground making aggressive gestures towards officers, calling them ‘stupid f****** c****’ and throwing bottles and cans at them. Mr Lees, added that Wright, who had been drinking heavily, had to be physically restrained by another protestor to stop his aggression towards the officers. The court heard that he had a conviction for a violent offence in 2015 and after this incident was convicted of a battery charge. This was before his arrest for this violent disorder offence.
Collins also made his way into the stadium, and when he was removed threw up to eight objects at police, including flares, bottles, and cans. The 25-year-old could be seen on CCTV moving onto Sir Matt Busby way throwing these cans at police, before following the crowd onto Chester Road.
Cowlishaw, only 19 at the time, could be seen picking up barriers to throw at police with other fans before ‘banging on cars’ on Chester Road. He followed the crowd to a nearby Lidl where he pulled a large amount of trolleys out before going back to banging on cars on Chester Road.
Edwards stood on top of a small power building near the Munich Tunnel, throwing bottles from a height, which could be seen on CCTV smashing near officers. The 22-year-old could then be seen spitting at officers as the crowd was pushed back. Blood, just 18 at the time, also threw bottles and stones from this building before crossing the railway tracks to Chester Road. On Chester Road footage showed him climbing on cars, which drove away with him holding onto them, before kicking the wing mirrors of a police van before pulling one completely off - causing more than £700 worth of damage.
All the defendants were said to be intoxicated at the time and were following the ‘mob’ in engaging in the violent disorder. All pleaded guilty to the charge of violent disorder, with blood pleading guilty to a further charge of criminal damage.
Nicola Carroll, defending Wright, said he was ‘genuinely remorseful’ for his actions on that day and he was “foolish to get caught up in mob mentality which was clearly impacted by his intoxication”. Ms Carroll added his drinking was “out of control” at this time and he was “struggling to keep his life in order”. However, he is now a “changed man”, she added and is getting help. Judge Field KC described his behaviour as “outrageous” and he should be “horrified and ashamed”.
Patrick Williamson, defending Collins, told the court that Collins struggles with his mental health which is why he may have engaged in “childlike” behaviour. He wrote a letter to the court admitting he was “silly and foolish” and Judge Field KC agreed there was a lack of aggression in his throwing of objects which was for the “reception” of others. Edward Steele, defending Cowlishaw, 21, made similar comments for his client, who suffers with anxiety and would not usually attend football games because of this.
Mr Steele said it was out of character for him to engage in the behaviour he did and it was “utterly stupid”. Witnessing the CCTV “disgusted” his family, the court heard.
Simeon Evans for Edwards described his behaviour as “stupid” and “very unpleasant”, referring to him spitting at officers. Mr Evans said Edwards was “drunk” and behaved in a “disgraceful manner”. Mr Evans added this was very out of character for Edwards who is usually very “shy”.
Blood handed himself into police after seeing an appeal with his image on in the news. Laura Broome, defending the 19-year-old, said he was surrounded by “aggressive and older males” on the day and followed the crowd. She added he “deeply regrets” his actions and he is filled with “shame and disgust”.
Judge Field KC, sentencing them all to suspended prison sentences, except Collins who was handed a community order, said: “You should all be thoroughly ashamed for what you have done and what brought you here today.” He invited them to look at the door down to the cells from the dock to highlight what could have happened to them.
“What started as a peaceful demonstration towards a business quickly turned into a serious incident of public disorder,” Judge Field KC added. The judge blasted the actions of all there in throwing bottles and other objects at police and staff and disrupting ordinary people on Chester Road. “The behaviour of each of you as parts of that mob encouraged others to behave in a disgraceful and similar way,” he said.
Wright of Mulberry Gardens, Sandbach, Cheshire, was given a “last chance” by Judge Field with a 20 month custody sentence suspended for two years. He was also ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Field acknowledged that Collins, of Barton Lane, “followed rather than led” the disorder acting in a “childlike rather than malicious” way and was handed a 24 month community order and told to do 150 hours unpaid work. Cowlishaw, of Winchester Road, Davyhulme, actions were described as “inexcusable” and he was handed a 12 month suspended prison sentence and unpaid work.
Edwards, of Amblecoat East Drive, behaved like a “complete idiot”, the judge said, handing him a 16 month suspended sentence and unpaid work. Blood, of Conway Avenue, was described as acting like a “drunken oaf” by climbing on cars and kicking the wing mirrors off of the police van. He was given a 12 month suspended sentence and told to do unpaid work and to pay £300 of compensation costs.
All were given football banning orders lasting three years.
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