POLICE have warned they will not tolerate violence at football matches after a man was jailed for an unprovoked attack on a rival fan.
Tomas Downing repeatedly punched out at an away fan in a booze-fueled assault outside Barrow AFC’s ground.
The 23-year-old was banned from attending Barrow matches home and away for the next six years.
Appearing at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court, the defendant, of Barrow’s North Row, admitted that he assaulted away fan Joseph Mayall when Barrow hosted Salford City on January 25.
Prosecutor George Shelley said the incident happened at around 9.30pm when the victim was standing on Holker Street having been asked to leave the match.
Downing was said to have approached him alongside three others and asked if he was a Salford fan.
The defendant told Mr Mayall was Barrow’s ‘top dog’ and challenged him to a ‘one v one’, before calling him ‘Salford scum’.
Mr Shelley said: “[Downing] punched the victim to the side of the fence with a clenched fist.
“He tried to defend himself and was punched numerous times by the defendant, resulting in him falling to the ground when the defendant continued to rain punches down on to him.”
The court heard that when interviewed, Downing told officers he had drunk alcohol before the match and a half a bottle of vodka during it.
Mr Shelley said Downing had 24 previous convictions for 41 offenses and was previously sentenced to 32 months in prison.
When he committed the offense he was serving a suspended sentence handed down after he failed to complete unpaid work last year.
The prosecutor asked the court to consider a banning order prohibiting him from attending Barrow AFC matches home and away.
A statement from Barrow’s dedicated football officer Rickie Wallbank said Downing was part of a group of fans known as The Mindless Few, identified as a ‘risk’ at matches.
Representing Downing, Karen Templeton urged magistrates not to send him to prison.
“He doesn’t have a great recollection of it.
“He’s remorseful about what’s happened.
“He treats this very seriously.”
Ms Templeton said Downing had changed his behavior since the incident and had stopped drinking alcohol.
She said having broken up with his partner, Downing had turned to drinking, resulting in him losing his job.
He has since referred himself to The Well for treatment and rehabilitation.
Sentencing him, chair of the bench Chris Harris said: “You did carry out what was a repeated and sustained attack against a targeted individual.
Substantial force was used and this is the very thing that the law is very anxious to prevent in football.”
PC Wallbank said: “Violence has no place at football. At a time when football violence in on a rise nationally, this sentence shows that it is unacceptable and we will not tolerate it.
“Thankfully the overwhelming majority of Barrow AFC supporters who travel up and down the country are a huge credit to their club. I am extremely proud of the way they represent the club and that they have no interest in violence.
“The police work closely with our colleagues at Barrow AFC to ensure those who abuse the privilege of attending matches are prevented from doing so in the future, which is why I and the club welcome the six-year banning order which should send a message to those who may think about turning to violence.”