Shrewsbury football hooligan denies breaching order
A football hooligan who narrowly avoided custody for his part in a town centre brawl before a Shrewsbury Town FC match has denied breaching the conditions of his sentence.
Lewis Gardiner, 19, of Mottershead, Harlescott, Shrewsbury, was sentenced to six months in a young offenders' institute suspended for 12 months at Shrewsbury Crown Court last October for his part in violent clashes between Shrewsbury Town FC supporters and Walsall FC supporters.
He was banned for four years and ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.
He must also obey a curfew to be home between 8pm and 6am Friday to Sunday and pay £500 costs.
Appearing at court, he denied breaching the conditions of his suspended sentence on July 6 by using unacceptable behaviour.
Gardiner admitted his part in the violent skirmish between between Shrewsbury and Walsall fans, which started in front of shoppers in Mardol, Shrewsbury, before spilling out across Smithfield Road, bringing traffic to a standstill.
Police officers were injured as they tried to restore order before the League One game on October 14 last year, including Constable Lee Saunders, who suffered a broken leg.
Extra policing to end the mayhem and arrest those responsible cost £24,000 and the subsequent criminal investigation cost another £30,000. The Crown Prosecution Service used a further £5,600 to prepare each case for sentencing, bringing the total amount of taxpayers' money spent as a result of the brawl to £59,600.
Three other offenders were jailed and another two were also given suspended sentences.
Gardiner's case will be in court again on September 8 for mentioning, when he will also enter a plea for another charge of assault.
