Atherston Matters

[boyliegladbach]

Is that them all now, or are some still to be sentenced?

There are more being sentenced today and tomorrow.

If the ones that pleaded guilty got them sentences. The not guilty pleaders who got found guilty must be panicking a bit now.

Happy Christmas to them all.

[corner 91]

There are more being sentenced today and tomorrow.

If the ones that pleaded guilty got them sentences. The not guilty pleaders who got found guilty must be panicking a bit now.

Happy Christmas to them all.

Pleading guilty generally reduces the sentence by a third (first opportunity) down to a tenth (just before they step into the court) so it could be an extra prision issue Christmas dinner...

[Freya]

What a horrible, backwards town Atherstone is. Been reading through some Facebook comments of some locals and they are still convinced that these lads have done no wrong, as if attacking pensioners is ok. Some saying all they did was run on a pitch and take a flag. One saying no one was injured. Pure ignorance! Glad they are getting harsh sentences.

[barrowfan]

27 months for one of them:

http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/jailed- ... story.html

[Ste Story]

Most of them who go to prison will come out and struggle will to find work and probably spend the rest of their lives on the dole. I hope it was worth it for them. I think prison is a bit much, if they kicked off in a pub then it would just be a big fine and community service, seems they have got made an example of because it was in a football ground.

I think you're right.

Let's not dress it up as something it's not. This wasn't just a few drunks in a pub kicking off or a group of like minded yobs going at each other. It was large groups of men and young men attacking and intimidating women, children, pensioners and the disabled. It's disgusting and I'm absolutely delighted they're all getting long sentences. Hope it [SwearFilter] their lives up for the foreseeable years.

[The Real Slim Azza]

Most of them who go to prison will come out and struggle will to find work and probably spend the rest of their lives on the dole. I hope it was worth it for them. I think prison is a bit much, if they kicked off in a pub then it would just be a big fine and community service, seems they have got made an example of because it was in a football ground.

I think you're right.

Lets have a think about it.

These arent lads who started on someone of the same gender, size and age because they knocked over their Orange WKD in the Derby .

These are men who ran accross a football pitch with the intention of starting violence against any type of person they could. Be it Male fans, female fans , Disabled Fans , Young Fans and Elderly fans.

If you are telling me that running that distance in say a town centre to cause violence in the same way against the above would be treated any different. You must be completely stupid.

[Thelandlord]

You just have to read the evening liar to see lads getting 150 hours tea drinking for punching people unprovoked in town, that cop only got 180 hours for killing someone!

[Hadrian]

You are wrong. Suppose a group from a pub had run round the corner to another venue where Curry Night was taking place and put families, couples and indviduals, some elderly, in fear for their safety, carrying out assaults and a robbery while they were at it. The courts would be hardly likely to just say "Deary me, that's naughty. Steady on old chaps!"

I would liken it more to terrorism than a drunken assault on a Saturday night.

[Thelandlord]

Stephen Falle murdered David Morgan in town = 18 months
Cop from Walney, death by dangerous driving = 180 hours tea drinking

The Atherstone lot should have joined the Masons.

[Hadrian]

Falle admitted manslaughter not murder. An appalling incident.

How do those things equate with mob violence and the threat of such at Atherstone?

These guys were lucky someone elderly didn't die of a heart attack as a result of their yobbery and intimidation and some of them may then have ended up facing manslaughter charges in addition to the very serious charges they faced.

[Bingo]

I think the punishment is acceptable and they shouldn't have any complaints - they (the Atherstone fans) thought it was fair game to attack fans (and it was an attack not a fight) because it was a football game.

The ground itself was horrible and the stand was dark and dingy - there was no way of even getting out of the ground and it was very frightening at the time -the so called security had an average age of 70.

I hope it stands as a lesson to others - they had plenty of time to think about what they were doing - it wasn't just a moment of madness - these lads have ruined there lives. It was only a matter of luck that nobody was seriously hurt or killed that day - who knows what long term damage these things do to a person.

[Thelandlord]

Falle admitted manslaughter not murder. An appalling incident.

How do those things equate with mob violence and the threat of such at Atherstone?

These guys were lucky someone elderly didn't die of a heart attack as a result of their yobbery and intimidation and some of them may then have ended up facing manslaughter charges in addition to the very serious charges they faced.

Just can not understand how killing someone gets a lesser sentence

[Holkerbird]

I would say these people were given a fair trial and, having heard the evidence, a jury of their peers found some guilty and some not guilty. You can't ask for more than that.
Comments from people who weren't there to witness what took place and making excuses for them is what is wrong with society today. Using other cases which have nothing to do with what happened to our fans as examples of sentencing anomolies does not make it right.
Don't make excuses for the inexcusable. We went to a football match to support our team. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Bingo]

Statement from Atherstone Town facebook page - disgusting (probably not an official club one but claims statement is from the club and has a link to facebook from club site)

Statement from the club
"The new regime at Atherstone Town FC would like to extend our shock and dismay at the harsh and unjustifiable sentences handed out in court today to several young supporters for their part in the altercation during the FA Cup match against Barrow over two years ago. Whilst we, and I'm sure they and their families acknowledge they regret their actions of entering the field of play, to be treated and punished as they have been leaves a very bad taste indeed. Therefore, we wish those directly involved, their families and friends our support at this difficult time*

[DaveP]

I think it all comes down to intent. whatever the outcome if it was intended it is regarded as more serious, hence the difference between manslaughter and murder. In both cases death was caused but in the former it wasn't intended whereas in the latter it was.

I also agree that sentencing generally is very inconsistent.