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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Estel Farell-Roig & Alexander Brock

Footage shows football violence that saw fans banned and jailed

New footage shows violence breaking out between Bristol City and Swansea fans at Ashton Gate earlier this year.

There were several incidents of anti-social behaviour and violence during the fixture on February 2.

The trouble began when Swansea fans came to the front corner of the Atyeo Stand and clashed with stewards.

Bristol City fans also spilled over from the front corner  of the Dolman Stand to confront Swansea fans and police.

A total of seventeen men have now appeared in court over the disorder, six of which have been jailed for a total of 56 weeks for public order offences.

Bristol City supporters Samuel Staynings, Ross Higginson and James Hayes all appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court on June 20.

New footage has emerged of the disorder (Avon and Somerset Police)

Staynings, 27, avoided jail after spitting blood into the mouth of a police sergeant while Hayes was handed six weeks in prison for throwing punches at opposition fans.

Higginson, 24, was handed an eight-week jail term for a public order offence.

Nigel Pritchard, 53, from Swansea was the latest one to appear in court last week and was jailed for six weeks, as well as being ordered to pay £115 in costs and facing a six-year Football Banning Order (FBO).

Avon and Somerset Constabulary Detective Inspector David Lewis, who led the investigation, said: “Football can attract a very small minority interested in causing disorder, rather than the game.

"We’ll continue to work with colleagues from other forces and the clubs themselves to make sure genuine fans can enjoy matches safely.

"I hope these sentences show how seriously we and the courts take these offences and will reassure real football supporters.

"Violence around football matches will lead to jail time.”

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