Two jailed after soccer violence
Two men have been jailed and a third has been ordered to carry out 150 hours community punishment for their part in a riot involving football supporters at a Cardiff pub. Swansea City fans stopped at the Royal Exchange in Canton a pub which is popular with Cardiff City supporters on their way back from an away match, Cardiff Crown Court heard last week. Richard Ace, prosecuting, said the licensee tried to stop the Swansea fans entering but they went in anyway. Ace said the pub "erupted into violence", with furniture thrown around and glasses and bottles smashed. The host was pushed against a pillar and one customer suffered a broken thumb. Police had to separate the rival fans and more than £1,400 damage was caused to the pub. Swansea fan Paul Kane, 23, of Brondeg, Manselton, Swansea, admitted violent disorder and criminal damage. He was jailed for 21 months and banned from going to football matches for six years. Arthur Pugh, 48, of Ely, Cardiff, who was in the pub when the Swansea supporters arrived, was caught on CCTV throwing a stool and kicking a Swansea fan. He admitted violent disorder and was jailed for 12 months. John Simmonds, 48, of Canton, Cardiff, was also in the pub when the Swansea fans arrived. He admitted affray and was given 150 hours community punishment. Masked raiders ambush pub workers Two pub workers were ambushed by masked raiders and robbed of the pub's takings while walking in Derby city centre at 12.25pm on Monday last week. The man and woman, were in Curzon Street when a car pulled up to the pavement in front of them. Two masked men jumped out and attacked the man, while a third leapt across the car bonnet and stole a bag containing a "substantial amount" of cash from the woman. The victims both received minor injuries. The car, which was later found burnt out in Warner Street, was an L-reg silver Rover 214 with the registration number L673 KHL. The cash was in a silver freezer-type bag with the word "Screamers" on the side and a black zip around it. The men are 6ft tall and were wearing black balaclavas, black jumpers, jeans and gloves. Anyone with information is urged to call Derby North CID on 0845 123 3333. Machine gang strike at 13 pubs Licensees in south Gloucestershire are urged to be alert after 13 pubs were broken into and their gaming machines were looted. Police suspect the break-ins, which all happened over a six-week period, are linked. Thieves forced open fruit and other gaming machines at pubs near main roads, including the A420 and A431, between 3am and 4.30am. Five of the pubs were in Kingswood and two were in Hanham. The others were in Siston, Bridge Yate, Downend, Warmley, Winterbourne and Down. Police say they particularly want to hear from people who may have been working in the early hours, such as taxi drivers. Anyone with information can call Avon & Somerset Police on 0845 456 7000. Teenager dies in car horror A 17-year-old boy died after a car crashed into a pub in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The teenager was sitting in the front passenger seat of a Ford Escort when it hit the Phoenix pub on College Road, near the junction of George Street, at around 12.30am on Sunday. The 24-year-old driver was taken to Rotherham Hospital with fractured ribs and a broken sternum. Anyone with information is urged to call 0114 220 2900. Cars raided at Suffolk's Lion Items worth £4,000 including cash and audio equipment were stolen from cars parked at a Suffolk pub. The thieves struck outside the Lion on Ipswich Road, Needham Market, between 7.05pm and 9.15pm on Sunday They caused £230 damage to the cars. Anyone with information is urged to call Suffolk Police on 01284 774100.
