Bolton, Wigan and Man City fans' brawl in Darwen pub (From Blackburn Citizen)

Bolton, Wigan and Man City fans' brawl in Darwen pub

1:56pm Wednesday 18th February 2009 in News By David Barnes, Court reporter

A MASS brawl broke out in a Darwen pub after a man threw an empty pint glass towards a group of football fans, a court heard.

‘Bloodshed and a great deal of damage’ was caused as supporters used pool cues, stools and glasses in the Railway Hotel.

The man who threw the glass, Simon Rosser, was traced because his DNA was found on a cigarette that had been knocked out of his mouth.

Around £1,000 worth of damage was caused after trouble flared in the crowded pub that afternoon.

Rosser, 27, of Ripon Avenue, Springfield, Wigan, who had been watching TV coverage of Wigan Athletic's match with Blackburn Rovers last March, had pleaded guilty to a charge of affray.

He was given a sentence of six months prison, suspended for a year, with twelve months supervision and ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work.

Charles Brown, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, said shortly after 5pm that day some Manchester City fans started to congregate in the pub.

They seemed friendly and polite, Mr Brown said.

A short time later, two other young men entered and one of them apparently making a phone call requesting others to attend, the court heard..

Twenty others then went into the pub and began singing songs, indicating they were Bolton Wanderers fans. They were being vocal and aggressive.

Mr Brown said: "The whole atmosphere in the pub changed and became very tense.

"There were in the pub a number of other regular customers, including young women and at least one three year old child.

"In this atmosphere, the defendant, who was described as having a roll up cigarette in his mouth and a pint glass in his hand, threw the glass towards the group of Bolton supporters.

"Not surprisingly, they retaliated. He was assaulted, the cigarette was thrown from his mouth and a large scale disturbance then took place.

"Fighting between supporters involved the use of pool cues, stools and glasses.

"A scene of some devastation was left after the incident. Traces of blood were found.”

In police interview he explained he had thrown the empty glass in an instinctive reaction as he was frightened for his own safety at the time.

Anthony O'Donohoe, defending, told the court: "He wasn't a member of either group, the Manchester City or the Bolton Wanderers fans who had apparently organised some violence.

"It is clear that once the Bolton fans entered the pub, the atmosphere changed.”

In passing sentence, the judge, Mrs Justice Swift, told Rosser: "The effect of your action, although I accept not your intention at the time, was to act as a catalyst for a large scale disturbance.

"It resulted in a great deal of damage and indeed bloodshed in the pub. ”