Football hooligans who left diners terrified after violence between rival supporters spilled over into a Norwich restaurant have been handed banning orders.
Six men from the Midlands appeared at Norwich Magistrates’ Court to be sentenced following an incident after Norwich City's match with Birmingham City on September 30 last year, which the Canaries won 2-0.
This is the shocking moment brawling Birmingham City thugs rush a city centre restaurant while throwing kicks and punches.
— Eastern Daily Press (@EDP24) October 4, 2023
Read here: https://t.co/gVJe5vRMLA pic.twitter.com/kQltxleZmo
Police were called after fans threw punches and missiles including bottles and beer cans at the Gem restaurant opposite the railway station.
READ MORE: Six plead guilty to trouble after Norwich v Birmingham game
Prosecutor Sally Harris said people outside the restaurant had made obscene gestures towards passing coaches full of Birmingham fans prompting some to get off and sparking a confrontation and violence.
CCTV from the restaurant showed diners eating a meal forced to cower as supporters exchanged punches.
The footage shows a group of men swarming the Gem restaurant (Image: Newsquest)
Police released CCTV images as part of an appeal to trace fans involved in the violence (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)
Restaurant owner Cemal Alby suffered injuries to his arm in an attempt to stop marauding fans from getting inside.
Mark Parton, 63, from Walsall, was sentenced to eight weeks suspended for 12 months and banned from attending football matches for three years after admitting threatening behaviour.
Magistrates said he had been involved in an “unprovoked attack” that had involved innocent members of the public.
Lucy Brakewell, mitigating, said he admitted his behaviour had been despicable but that it had been a “complete moment of madness”.
Diners were left terrified after violence spilled in the Gem restaurant (Image: Newsquest)
Restaurant owner Cemal Alby suffered injuries to his arm in an attempt to stop marauding fans (Image: Newsquest)
READ MORE: Birmingham fans attack Gem of Norwich after Carrow Road loss
Dean Sheppard, 54, a window cleaner and single father of three teenagers from Birmingham, was sentenced to 18 weeks suspended for 18 months after admitting criminal damage and threatening behaviour.
His solicitor James Burrows said: “He recognises his behaviour was appalling and is shamed. He is hugely embarrassed to see his actions on the CCTV.”
Magistrates made him subject to a four year banning order.
Others involved the trouble have still not been traced by police (Image: Newsquest)
Andrew Parkes, 20, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, who admitted throwing a bottle outside the restaurant, and Craig Taylor, 32, from Sparkhill, Birmingham, were both handed 12 months community orders for threatening behaviour.
William Jordan, 41, from Birmingham, who threw a beer can during the confrontation, and Gary Kemp, 58, of Kings Norton, were also sentenced to 12 month community orders.
All four were made subject of three year football banning orders.
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