Atherston Matters

[Van Der Nipper]

When you arrive in court you should be given a copy to read back through.

[barrowfan]

Had a letter arrive from the police today and I have been asked to attend on 15th June - nothing like a bit of notice and I haven't heard anything for about 9-12 months so assumed I wasn't wanted. Going to have to read over my statement again if I can find it.

So it's got at least another month to go?

[boyliegladbach]

Had a letter arrive from the police today and I have been asked to attend on 15th June - nothing like a bit of notice and I haven't heard anything for about 9-12 months so assumed I wasn't wanted. Going to have to read over my statement again if I can find it.

So it's got at least another month to go?

Different trail and people I presume.

[Si_Nichols]

So it's got at least another month to go?

Different trail and people I presume.

Yep I am there for first day of the second trial.

I can't believe they only gave me 3 weeks notice. Its not like it is just round the corner.

[boyliegladbach]

The people who went down got about 4 days notice for current trial I think si

[Si_Nichols]

That is awful.

I haven't had any contact for about 9-12 months as far as I can remember and no indication I was going to be asked to come.

[Steelworks End]

Don't they need to serve a witness summons on you, which should give a reasonable amount of notice?

This is what happened when I had to go to the court as a witness some time ago.

[barrowfan_chris]

I wasn't given a copy of my statement Si. Are you sure you have one?
Make sure you are dressed in your Sunday best.
Good Luck dear friend.

Had a letter arrive from the police today and I have been asked to attend on 15th June - nothing like a bit of notice and I haven't heard anything for about 9-12 months so assumed I wasn't wanted. Going to have to read over my statement again if I can find it.

You are given your statements to read when you arrive a court.

If travelling from a distance bring an overnight bag with a change of clothes ect.. as the two that gave evidence the other week had to stop over night.

All expenses occurred for travelling to court can be claimed back or you can ask for train tickets.

[Ralph]

Don't they need to serve a witness summons on you, which should give a reasonable amount of notice? This is what happened when I had to go to the court as a witness some time ago.

If anyone has been called to appear, perhaps by phone, you can contact the Warwickshire Police, or the court if they were in touch, and ask for them to post you a summons, this is the case in NZ, and I assume the UK, so you can take this to your work and will make taking time off that much easier, and ensure you are paid for it, so don't have to take leave.

[jimboc90]

In the paper today about them, the two people who have been found guilty the judge has said prison is inevitable

[Ste Story]

TWO men who played a part in the violence that marred 'the biggest game in Atherstone Town's history' have heard it is 'as close to inevitable if not certain' they will be jailed.

Corey Sweet and Richard Smith were among six men who have been on trial at Warwick Crown Court after pleading not guilty to a charge of violent disorder.


After deliberating for a total of 12 hours and 36 minutes at the end of the three-week trial, the jury convicted Sweet, aged 20, formerly of Minions Close, Atherstone, and Smith, aged 24, of Cherry Orchard Estate, Higham-on-Hill, by unanimous verdicts.

But the foreman said they had not reached verdicts in the cases of Kacey Sweet, aged 23, also of Minions Close, Paul Tyler, aged 30, of Lister Road, Kieron Marshall, aged 18, of Royal Meadow Drive, and Connor Rendchen, aged 22, of South Street, all Atherstone.

The jury had heard the incident happened in October 2013 as Atherstone played an FA Cup third round qualifying match at home against a much higher-ranked Barrow FC.

With Atherstone trailing 4-0 at half-time, a group of its fans made their way round the pitch to the stand housing 80 to 100 Barrow supporters, including children and elderly people.

A flare was thrown into the stand and, as more Atherstone fans ran across the pitch to join in, Barrow fans were attacked and at least nine injured.

Prosecutor Paul Spratt pointed out there was no dispute there was a violent disorder – because 12 men had admitted the charge at earlier hearings.

And there were a number of photographers at the match whose pictures captured the defendants at various stages.

Corey Sweet agreed he was wearing a blue hooded top and orange jeans, but denied the person wearing similar clothes in the Barrow stand with his fists clenched was him.

He claimed in court he had walked round the pitch at half-time to get to a bar behind the Barrow stand, but found his way blocked by a 'commotion' in a doorway to the stand.

He claimed he stayed and watched what was happening for two or three minutes, but denied becoming involved or lending his support to the violence.

Smith was photographed crossing the pitch to the Barrow stand with his fist clenched and then in the stand, but claimed he had only gone across out of curiosity to see what was happening.

But Mr Spratt commented: "You may conclude that following others across the ground, when those who had already gone have clearly demonstrated a willingness to engage in violence, demonstrates that they act with a common purpose.

"The defendants here today need not have gone across to the other side of the pitch at all; and even if they had, they need not have stayed there, and those that entered the Barrow stand need not have done so."

After the jury had returned its verdicts on Corey Sweet and Smith, at the requests of their barristers, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC agreed to order a pre-sentence report on them.

But he observed: "It seems to me as close to inevitable, if not certain, that these men will go to immediate custody."

Judge Lockhart agreed to give Corey Sweet and Smith bail, but stressed: "I don't want anyone to move away from this court thinking custody is anything other than virtually inevitable."

And he told them: "You have been convicted by this jury of the offence of violent disorder. Both of you know the gravity of the situation you now find yourself in.

"I am going to grant you the benefit of pre-sentence reports, but I have to tell you both it is vanishingly unlikely the outcome of this case will be anything other than a substantial custodial sentence.

"The overwhelming likelihood is that you will go to prison for a substantial period."

Corey Smith, now of Royal Meadow Drive, Atherstone, and Smith were both granted bail with conditions of residence at their home addresses – and the judge warned them that meant 'no summer holiday.'

The jury was told by Judge Lockhart that when they resume their deliberations in relation to the other four defendants, he would accept majority verdicts.

* After deliberating for a further four-and-a-quarter hours on Friday, the jury found Kacey Sweet, also now of Royal meadow Drive, Atherstone, guilty by a majority of 10-2.

But Rendchen, a former Atherstone player, who broke down in tears when his verdict was announced, and Tyler were both found not guilty.

The jury was still unable to return a verdict on Marshall and asked the judge to adjourn for them to continue considering his case on Monday – and Judge Lockhart agreed.

As with his brother, Kacey Sweet's case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on him, and he was granted bail with the same condition of residence at his home address.

Judge Lockhart told him: "I do so, you being in the clear knowledge that it is vanishingly unlikely that anything other than a custodial sentence will be applied in your case.

[Uncle Peter]

I might be wrong, but was their a bar on that side? I though it was over the home side

[corner 91]

I might be wrong, but was their a bar on that side? I though it was over the home side

The bar was definitely in the opposite corner of the ground from the Barrow fans

[Steelworks End]

There was a snack bar/van behind the terrace where the Barrow fans were, that's all.

Perhaps they were only running across the pitch to get a half time Bovril!

[Barrow Bluebirds]

I am going to give evidence at court,is anybody going down by train?