Two sentenced following football related violence

Two men have been sentenced following an affray at The Minerva Pub in Plymouth last November.

Stefan Adamson aged 28 from Stoke, Plymouth and Karl White aged 20 from St Judes Plymouth pleaded guilty to their involvement in the offence.

Both men have received 15 month Community Orders at Plymouth Crown Court on Friday 8th April and have also been given football banning orders for five years each, which bans them from entering any football ground in the UK. Both men also received Licensed Premises Exclusions for 18 months and were fined.

On Tuesday 21st November 2015, a large group of Plymouth Argyle supporters entered The Minerva Pub on Looe Street, Plymouth and callously attacked a rival group of fans who were in the city for the Plymouth Argyle fixture against Leyton Orient.

The group, led by Adamson along with White, met at a near-by pub before entering the Minerva and attacking the Leyton Orient supporters.

A large disorder commenced with tables, chairs and pint glasses being used as weapons, leading to members of the public cowering to protect themselves. Following the attack, the group left the pub and returned to a nearby licensed premise.

Sergeant Ryan Northmore from the Police Football Unit said: “This offence was an attack on a rival supporter group who were in the city for the Plymouth Argyle versus Leyton Orient fixture. This unfortunately took place in licensed premises where members of the public, unrelated to either of these groups were present and had to witness this unacceptable and frightening behaviour.”

“Football related violence will not be tolerated, whether in the stadium or away from the ground. The Police Football Unit work hard to ensure those that commit offences linked to football, or act in a disorderly manner receive proportionate Football Banning Orders to prevent them spoiling matches for law abiding fans.”

A club spokesman from Plymouth Argyle FC said: “Those involved in this incident are criminals, pure and simple – football does not want them; Argyle does not want them. As we promised, we will take steps to ensure they are banned from Home Park.”

Following the incident, three people received police cautions for public order offences. A further five juveniles were charged and all pleaded guilty for affray at an earlier hearing.

All five of these juveniles received fines, and four of these received football banning orders for the duration of three years each.

Sergeant Victoria Howells from the football Unit, said: “The Force Football Unit has been working in partnership with Plymouth Argyle Football Club and the Safer Plymouth to combat anti social behaviour in football.

“We recognise that some young people are vulnerable when attending football and will do our best to work in partnership with the families to help protect them and to also prevent any escalation in behaviour.”

There are currently 36 active Football Banning Orders in place across Devon and Cornwall, which prevents those who are banned from entering any sporting stadium for a football fixture, or being in the vicinity on match days whether home or away.