A protester who kicked a police officer in the testicles was among the latest Manchester United fans to be hauled before the courts for their part in the 'mob violence' which led to a Premier League game being abandoned. The officer was left feeling 'instantly sick' after Jake Hayes kicked him, as police responded to ugly scenes outside Old Trafford.
Up to 2,000 fans headed to the ground ahead of the proposed game between United and Liverpool, which was being played behind closed doors in May last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The fixture was later abandoned on safety grounds after initially peaceful protests turned violent, with fans breaking into the stadium and making it onto the pitch on two occasions.
Missiles including bottles and cans were thrown towards police, and one officer suffered serious injuries to his face from a flying bottle during the fracas. A total of 40 fans have admitted violent disorder for their part in the large scale disturbance.
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In the third sentencing hearing to be held at Manchester Crown Court, a further five men were given suspended prison sentences, the same punishment previously handed down to eight other men. "It is wrong that police officers and stewards have to cope with people like you who were behaving like animals," Judge Nicholas Dean KC, the Honorary Recorder of Manchester, told the five defendants.
"You should be utterly ashamed of your behaviour. You should not be permitted in my judgement ever to attend a Manchester United game, that is a matter for the club ultimately."
The judge paid tribute to the 'restraint' of police responding to the 'frightening' incident. "Protest is perfectly permissible, but what you involved yourselves in was not protest, it was mob violence," the judge added.
"The Greater Manchester Police and the stewards who were involved in the events of May 2 are to be commended." Prosecutor David Lees told how one officer was 'kicked in the testicles' by 21-year-old Hayes. "It knocked the wind out of him, causing him to feel instantly sick," he said. The officer suffered pain and bruising and had to take 'several days' off work.
It followed scuffles between protesters and police. CCTV footage showed Hayes pushing the officer, before he was pushed back and then launched the kick.
Hayes was one of the dozens of fans who made it onto the pitch after a disabled entrance to the ground was forced open. After being ejected from the stadium, Hayes threw up to 15 missiles towards police.
Another protester in the dock was 56-year-old Brian Doherty. He made it onto the pitch and filmed selfie videos of himself saying ''we have broken in', 'we are on the f****** pitch' and 'f*** the f****** Glazers'.
Doherty also hurled abuse at Sky TV commentator and former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher, saying 'don't spit at United fans' and calling him a 'Scouse t***'. Mr Lees said the abuse was in reference to an incident when the former England defender was 'in trouble for spitting at a Manchester United fan'.
Mr Carragher was previously suspended by Sky Sports after being caught on camera spitting towards the driver of a car, who had mocked him for Liverpool's recent defeat to United. Doherty also climbed onto the roof of a generator building near the Munich tunnel and urinated from it towards the nearby train station.
Rudy Smethurst, 26, also made it onto the pitch and threw a flare towards the Sky commentary team, but missed. The flare burnt through a tarpaulin and damaged a seat.
Ryan Fox-Kettle, 24, threw a number of misses towards police and abused officers, spitting towards one and trying to grab one of their hats. He was seen on CCTV on Sir Matt Busby Way in 'discomfort'. Fox-Kettle later claimed he had been 'struck' by police officers.
"That you Mr Fox-Kettle were on the wrong end of a baton is entirely of your own making," the judge said. Gary Buckley, 52, also in the dock, had taken his two teenage sons along to the protest. He went onto the pitch and shook the goalposts.
One of his sons had taken a football from the pitch and after leaving, Buckley told him 'give us that ball a minute, they won't take it off me'. He put a sticker over a CCTV camera within the ground, and briefly jumped onto the bonnet of a car as he and other protestors were moved away from Old Trafford.
"They saw their father behave in an appalling fashion," the judge said of Buckley. Defending, Neil Ronan said dad-of-two Fox-Kettle's 'boorish and aggressive' behaviour was out of character.
Fox-Kettle, a director of a catering company, is 'deeply ashamed' for his actions, and previously attended United games with his mother in the disabled section before she became too unwell to attend. Attending football games is now a 'distant enthusiasm' for him due to him caring for two young children and his mother, Mr Ronan said.
For Smethurst, Emily Hassell said he was normally a 'hard working' gas engineer and had been 'caught up in the moment'. "He made a complete error of judgement," she said.
Ms Hassell, also representing dad-of-two Hayes, said he had 'got carried away with the crowds' after planning to protest peacefully. Salford Council worker Hayes handed himself in to police the day after the protest after seeing a picture of him circulating online.
Unemployed Doherty is 'embarrassed' and 'disappointed' in himself and has stopped drinking, his barrister Damian Zelazowski said. The lawyer said Doherty plans to watch football at home in future, 'where he can, if he needs to, shout at the television'.
For Buckley, Betsy Hindle said he is a 'family man' and 'hard worker' who has set up his own waste disposal firm. Ms Hindle said Buckley, who was brought before the courts previously for racially abusing a steward at a Wigan Athletic game in September last year, became 'unable to cope' following the breakdown of his marriage.
Fox-Kettle, of Queen Street, Staffordshire; Smethurst, of Banbury Road, Middleton; Buckley, of Billinge Road, Wigan; Doherty, of Douglas Walk, Whitefield; and Hayes, of Whitebeam Close, Salford; all pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Hayes also pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, while Doherty also admitted possessing cannabis.
Fox-Kettle was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. Smethurst and Doherty were both was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Buckley was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. Hayes was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.
Doherty and Buckley were also ordered to observe a curfew for eight months. Fox-Kettle, Smethurst and Hayes must carry out unpaid work and complete rehabilitation activity requirement days.
All five were handed football banning orders, prohibiting them from attending games for three years.
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