Football bans over mob attack on pub

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday how innocent customers, including a pregnant woman, had to flee the bar of the Foundry Hill pub last July when it came under attack from a drunken mob of football followers.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC was told that some of the group had links with the notorious Bradford City hooligan gang known as The Ointment and the attack on the pub came hours after the Bantams had played a pre-season friendly against Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.

The judge yesterday locked up four men and two 17-year-old youths after they all admitted violent disorder arising out of the incident, which caused about 7,000 damage.

Although none of the customers or staff was injured the judge heard it was a planned attack by the group after one of the door staff posted a derogatory comment on Facebook.

Staff at the pub had tried to stop the mob entering and one described hearing them chanting "we're going to kill you" before they managed to force their way in. The Judge said the attack caused panic in the pub.

Self-confessed Ointment member Paul Clifford, 51, of Summerfield Drive, Leeds, was jailed for two years and convicted football hooligan Gary Partridge, 39, of School Lane, Wibsey, Bradford, received the longest jail term of two-and-a-half years.

Kevin Buttrick, 46, of Buttershaw Drive, Bradford, also received two years and Tom Leach, 23, of Timble Drive, Eldwick, was locked up for 21 months.

The two 17-year-olds were given detention and training orders of 18 and 12 months.

Leach, Clifford, Buttrick and one of the teenagers were made the subjects of the six-year banning orders. Partridge is currently subject to a civil football banning order and the other 17-year-old had a three-year banning order imposed on him in 2008.