Three Manchester United fans who were part of an 'unruly mob' as protests against the club's ownership turned ugly have narrowly avoided jail for the 'disgraceful' scenes which led to a Premier League game being abandoned. Up to 2,000 fans descended on Old Trafford ahead of United's fixture against Liverpool in May last year, which was being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus.
The game had to be postponed after some fans, who had attended a demonstration against the Glazer family and the proposed European Super League, became involved in a violent confrontation with police and stewards. Dozens of fans broke into the stadium and made their way onto the pitch, and during the ugly fracas a police officer suffered a serious facial injury after being hit by a bottle.
Now three United supporters have become the first to be sentenced for their part in the disturbance. They are the first of 40 defendants to be hauled to court, after admitting violent disorder, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
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Jake Cottee, 21, from Kent, Matthew Smethurst, 30, from Oldham, and Keenan Kavanagh, 20, from Salford, all narrowly avoided jail following a hearing at Manchester Crown Court. "What appears to have started out as a lawful demonstration against the owners of the club quickly turned into an altogether more serious incident of public disorder, during which unlawful entry was gained to the stadium, property was damaged, bottles and cans were thrown at police officers and stadium security staff," Judge Patrick Field KC said.
"There were direct assaults on police officers, security staff were jostled. One police officer suffered a very serious injury to his face. This was on any view an exhibition of the most unpleasant and unacceptable public disorder, that appears in significant part to have been fuelled by excessive consumption of alcohol.
"This was a serious disturbance of the peace. Each of you was a member of a large and at times unruly mob.
"The behaviour and antics of each of you as constituent parts of the unruly mob encouraged others to begave in a similarly disgraceful and unacceptable way." Prosecutors told how United fans began to congregate on the stadium forecourt at around 1pm, with the game due to kick off at 4.30pm on Sunday, May 2.
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.
As Smethurst tried to climb over the gates, he kicked out and connected with the head of a steward, who suffered 'pain and discomfort'. Protestors were able to force their way into the stadium and onto the pitch. Cottee pushed over a Sky TV camera, causing £63,000 worth of damage.
A flare was thrown towards the Sky commentary team, but missed. Corner flags and footballs were stolen, the court heard. Stewards were able to remove the intruders, but entry was gained for a second time after a door for disabled supporters was kicked open by Smethurst and others.
Some hurled abuse at former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher who was commentating on the game, Mr Lees said. Smethurst climbed into a broadcast area and threw a camera tripod onto the pitch, damaging it.
Fans were removed from the stadium for a second time, and outside scenes became 'increasingly vociferous and violent', the prosecutor said. Flares, bottles and cans were thrown in the direction of police, during which an officer was hit to the face with a bottle.
He suffered 'serious fractures' to bones in his face. A man is due to stand trial in relation to this incident next year.
Mr Lees said 35 assaults against police officers and security staff were recorded. One officer said missiles were being thrown at them 'like confetti'.
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.
Eventually, after 4pm, police were able to move the protestors away from Old Trafford and onto Chester Road, where some surrounded cars occupied by members of the public. The game was abandoned and rescheduled for a later date.
The actions of Cottee, Smethurst and Kavanagh were caught on CCTV. Judge Field said Cottee had embarked on a 'violent, drink fuelled rampage'.
He made it onto the pitch, damaged the TV camera, and threw missiles during the fracas outside the ground. Smethurst threw a flare, repeatedly kicked at a security gate, pushed stewards and threw the tripod.
Kavanagh was seen throwing cans, took hold of metal security barriers and kicked at a turnstile door 12 times. All of their barristers appealed for them to be spared from being sent to prison, noting they have not committed any criminal offences previously.
Defending Cottee, Jonathan Dickinson said the devoted United fan, who has followed the team across Europe, had otherwise led a hard working and 'blameless' life. Cottee has an 'extremely well paid job' working as a service technician in the offshore wind industry, the court heard.
He described Cottee's actions as an 'out of character afternoon of madness', committed while his 'adrenaline was running high'. Mr Dickinson said Cottee has been diagnosed with ADHD which can cause him to behave 'impulsively'.
"He like many of Manchester United's supporters at that time was particularly unhappy at the involvement of the club's owners in the European Super League," he said. He said Cottee was 'genuinely shocked' at his own behaviour, and that he never intended to harm anyone.
Steven Sullivan, defending, said Kavanagh was immature and became 'tipsy' at the protest. "It's quite clear alcohol eroded his common sense, his moral compass and his habitual pleasant behaviour," the barrister said.
"He was swept up with immaturity and tipsiness in the heat and emotion of the moment." Kavanagh told police he was 'sorry' and 'ashamed' when he was interviewed.
Mr Sullivan said Kavanagh's behaviour was out of character. He said that Kavanagh has a job and provides 'significant' support for his sick grandfather.
Michael James, defending Smethurst, said the defendant was 'very drunk' at the protest, and that looking back his behaviour 'surprises himself'. He said Smethurst was 'disgusted' by his actions, and 'apologises profusely' to the stewards he 'pushed around'.
Cottee, of Maidstone; Smethurst of Fern Street, Chadderton; and Kavanagh, of Ellesmere Street, Salford, all pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Cottee and Smethurst also admitted criminal damage.
The judge said all three men could have no complaint if he sent them to jail, but he was satisfied there was a prospect of rehabilitation. Cottee and Smethurst were both sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. Both were ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
Cottee was ordered to pay £12,000 in compensation towards the damaged camera, while Smethurst was told he must pay £3,800 compensation to Manchester United for the damaged door, and £717 to the owners of the camera tripod. Kavanagh was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was ordered to carry out 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work.
All three men were handed football banning orders, preventing them from attending games for three years.
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