A BUILDER has been banned from going to Town matches for three years after police caught him among crowds of brawling Swindon and Exeter fans last year.

Darren Hicks, 45, was spotted on police camera footage on February 1 among a group of Swindon Town fans who converged on Exeter City supporters as they were being walked to the train station by officers after the Robins’ 2-1 victory over the Devon side.

Footage played to Swindon Crown Court yesterday showed Hicks in the mêlée, although he was not violent towards police officers or opposition fans.

Hicks, who has a previous conviction for football-related public disorder dating back to 2008, told police in his interview he’d done nothing wrong and the incident was normal football violence.

Two other men who have both admitted affray, Matthew Greener and Samuel Cullum-Short, were expected to be sentenced alongside Hicks on Monday. But Judge Peter Crabtree adjourned their case for a special hearing, called a Newton Hearing, to establish their culpability. It followed disagreements in court between the prosecution and defence lawyers over the men’s actions and intention.

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Darren Hicks outside Swindon Crown Court Picture: ADVER PHOTOGRAPHER

Prosecutor Susan Cavender told the court police became concerned before the fixture when there was trouble outside the Tap and Barrell pub, Manchester Road. A number of Exeter fans had attempted to get inside the pub, which was designated for Town supporters, and had been met with aggression from the home fans.

One of the Town fans was heard to shout “I’m having you, mate” and “slash you up”.

After the home side beat the visitors 2-1, a group of Exeter supporters were being escorted back along to the train station by police. A group of Town fans emerged from an alleyway onto Station Road and brawled with the opposition supporters.

Greener, 34, and Cullum-Short, 22, could be seen in the footage throwing punches. Two police officers claimed they saw Cullum-Short go to throw a punch at a police officer. He was bitten by police dog, Elvis, and cornered by the animal and its handler.

Police responsible for putting down the fighting described it as one of the most violent disorders they’d experienced. PC Connor Crespin said the fans’ actions were utterly deplorable, while a Devon and Cornwall football liaison officer said it was clear the Town fans made concerted efforts to engage with the Exeter group.

In mitigation, it was said Hicks was not involved in the fighting. He was a builder by trade and ran his own business, had two daughters and paid child support. He had not been in trouble for some time.

His lawyer, Paul Jones, asked the judge to redraft the proposed football banning order so his client could attend pre-arranged building jobs in the area around the County Ground while games were being played.

Hicks, of Bourton Avenue, Stratton St Margaret, pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour.

Judge Crabtree sentenced him to an 18-month community order with 140 hours of unpaid work and fined him £250. He was made subject to a three-year football banning order preventing him from going to games or travelling to watch Swindon Town or England.

Matthew Greener, of Barnes Wallis Close, Bowerhill, and Samuel Cullum-Short, of Queenborough, Toothill, were granted unconditional bail to attend a Newton Hearing on a date to be fixed.