A DRUNK Bristol Rovers supporter has been jailed after he kicked a Swindon fan that was lying on the ground.

William Dinham-Mead kicked the Town supporter before the two sides met at the Memorial Ground in October last year.

The 28-year-old was involved in a “pre-match disorder”, according to Avon and Somerset Police, before the Robins’ 3-1 victory over Rovers on October 2.

He has now been banned from attending football matches for the next six years.

Appearing at Bristol Magistrates’ Court last week, District Judge Lynne Matthews said that the offence was so serious only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

Court registers show she deemed that “an individual was targeted by a group that you were part of and you used a shod foot to kick someone whilst they were on the ground”, adding the offence was “committed whilst in drink”.

Dinham-Mead, of Badminton Road in Coalpit Heath, pleaded guilty to a section 4 public order offence and was banned from attending football games for six years.

He was made the subject of a football banning order, which will prevent him from attending any football matches, and hand his passport to police on certain days where matches are played outside the UK.

He is also banned from entering an area around Rovers’ Memorial Stadium four hours before a home game, until four hours after the end of the match. When the club play away, he must not enter the town, city or London borough which they are playing in on the day of the game, or where the England national team are playing.

Meanwhile, a teenager was ordered to do community service after being involved in the same incident.

Cyrus Thomas, who was 17 at the time of the incident, also admitted the same offence.

District Judge Matthews imposed a 12-month community order, which will see him take part in 280 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation activity days.

The now 18-year-old, of Crispin Way, Kingswood, was given a football banning order on the same terms as Dinham-Mead, but for five years.

It comes as Avon and Somerset Police obtained banning orders against a number of football fans involved in disorder at Bristol Rovers and Bristol City games last season.

Inspector Mark Nicholson said: “Threatening behaviour and actions that could potentially endanger public safety will not be tolerated.

“Thousands of football fans enjoy games across Avon and Somerset without issue every season. I am sure they will welcome the bans handed down by the courts to these six individuals who have acted irresponsibly.”