Motown Fox
Well-Known Member
CCTV showing the fight between Wednesday and Leeds fans
They were on a birthday drinking session in York
Locking up all 12 men at Leeds Crown Court yesterday for a total of 28-and-a-half years, Judge Paul Hoffman said he couldn't imagine a worse case of violent disorder in terms of "ferocity and persistence".
He said: "It boils down to the fact you were Sheffield Wednesday supporters and you collectively had a dislike of, if not hatred for, Leeds United supporters and they were your immediate victims.
"The offence occurred in a confined space, vulnerable persons were present, many were terrified.
"Blows were being traded, people had to flee, some were trapped in their places. Many female passengers were in tears and children were traumatised. I've had a letter from a seven-year-old girl who was fearful her mother might be hurt."
He added: "All of you showed reckless indifference to the plight of your victims, whether direct or indirect. No provocation whatsoever was offered.
"One man was severely beaten and stamped to his head and body and another was stamped on. Six carriages had to be taken out of service and the train was delayed for an hour."
They were on a birthday drinking session in York
She said: "They had been drinking, their mood was boisterous, and they had been ejected from a number of licensed premises. A number of passengers on the train were able to recall that they were making reference to football affiliation and hatred of Leeds United fans."
Shaun Jones, 37, Daniel Hewitt, 20, Lee Ardron, 23, and Robert Wharam, 20, started a conversation with another group of men in the carriage who had been to York races on a stag do.
But when Jones heard they were Leeds fans, he walked down the train and told the rest of the group they were "Leeds lads".
Miss Worsley said: "They followed Jones back down the train and Dominic Mullen, 22, demanded, 'Who's starting up here?' He was clenching his fists and oozing trouble.
He began punching one of the victims and shouted, 'Do you want some?'."
The brawl was captured on CCTV. Footage showed the thugs chasing the men down the train and punching, kicking and stamping on them as passengers cowered in their seats.
:icon_eek:Train host Kenneth Barlow, who bravely pushed his trolley into the aisle between the two groups, described passengers looking "frightened to death".