Tuesday 11th August 2009

As Reported by www.watfordobserver.co.uk

Two football hooligans – including one from Watford – have been slapped with six-year-banning orders and prison sentences for their involvement in a mass brawl.

Paul Colman and John Spear

Queens Park Rangers fans Paul Colman, 50, of Romilly Drive, Carpenders Park, and John Spear, 57, from Uxbridge both received the banning orders preventing them from attending football games, starting with immediate effect.

In addition, Colman received an 18 month jail sentence, while Spear was sentenced to 21 months for their involvement in a violent fight, which saw bottles thrown and innocent bystanders injured, including a pensioner, in Manningtree Station ‘s bar in Essex.

The troubled flared after a group of QPR fans entered the bar shouting after an away game against Ipswich Town.

PC Alvin Soomary, from British Transport Police who successfully applied for the football banning orders, said: “This was a serious incident of violent disorder that saw law-abiding members of the public fearing for their own personal safety.

“Those who think they can behave in such a way, and ruin other people’s days out in the process, should know that they will be dealt with robustly.”

The two men must not enter any premises where football is being played until the orders have expired nor must they loiter within a three-mile radius of any stadium where a QPR away game is taking place.

During England home matches, the two men must not enter the British railway or London Underground network without the permission of police authorities.

PC Soomary concluded: “QPR fans, like the majority of supporters across the country, are well behaved people who enjoy following their team,”

“It should be clear that it is the behaviour of a small minority, such as Colman and Spear, who bring the game into disrepute.”