Football hooligan jailed for part in violence
A CARDIFF City fan who was involved in a brawl with Aston Villa supporters outside a pub has been jailed.
Nathan Pleace was one of three Bluebirds supporters who were involved in the punch-up with 10 Aston Villa fans outside The Cornwall pub in Grangetown on August 12 last year.
The violent confrontation saw fans from both sides throwing punches, kicks and missiles at each other after Cardiff City beat Aston Villa 3-0 in their Championship clash.
Pleace, 33, of Andrews Road in Llandaff North, had denied a single charge of violent disorder but a jury found him guilty on October 5, along with four other men.
During the trial at Cardiff Crown Court, the jury was shown CCTV appearing to show Pleace throwing a plastic glass at the opposition group outside The Cornwall pub.
The CCTV also showed him kicking out at a man on the floor and appearing to throw a punch to a man on the floor.
Footage also showed him picking up a chair from inside the pub, but this was not used in the fight.
As previously reported in the Echo, Judge Neil Bidder sentenced 10 of the men involved to prison terms ranging between nine months and three years at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday.
But the sentencing of Pleace had been postponed until yesterday to allow him to attend a scheduled medical procedure.
Speaking at the sentencing hearing on Monday, Judge Bidder said he considered Pleace to be in the most serious group of offenders involved in the incident, along with Aston Villa fans Brett Clarke, 40, and Ryan White, 21.
Judge Bidder said although Pleace was not involved with the group who started the altercation, he did throw a bottle once the violence had started and returned back inside the pub to find more objects to throw.
“It is obvious that you relished becoming involved in this fighting,” Judge Bidder said.
Christopher Rees, defending, told the court that Pleace only became involved with the fighting as a reaction to others.
He also asked the judge to consider his active service in the Parachute Regiment of the British Army.
Sentencing Pleace yesterday, Judge Bidder said: “In your case I have considered the fact that you did not go out looking for serious trouble, which is a point that was made very forcibly by Mr Rees.
“Your service in the Parachute Regiment and the impact that it had on you, although I put you in the most serious category, justifies a slightly greater reduction in sentence.”
Judge Bidder handed Pleace a custodial sentence of two years and nine months.
The sentencing of Gary Tucker, 51, of Holly Lane, Birmingham, has also been postponed until February 2019 while he awaits a scheduled medical procedure.
Vincent Richards, 32, of Leckwith Road, Llandough, failed to attend the sentencing hearing on Monday, prompting Judge Bidder to issue a warrant for his arrest.
Huw Rogers, senior district crown prosecutor, said after the hearing: “This was large-scale violence between rival football supporters and it is by good fortune alone that no-one appeared to be seriously injured. The case built by the CPS provided evidence to the court of each individual’s actions, leading to the sentences imposed. The people who came forward to give evidence have our thanks.”