A Colchester United fan who threatened Southend supporters after a derby game has been banned from the terraces for three years.
Railway worker Jamie Lawrence was also fined and handed a 50-hour community punishment order at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.
The 28-year-old had been found guilty at trial of criminal damage and using threatening behaviour, following the incident at the Drury Arms in Layer Road, Colchester, on February 5, shortly after the final whistle in the home leg of the U's clash with Southend United in the LDV Vans Trophy.
The court heard Lawrence, of Eddison Gardens, Colchester, had not attended the match, but had stopped off at the Drury after going to the stadium to buy tickets to a future fixture.
Trouble broke out between rival supporters as they walked back to town after the game and police shepherded several U's fans into the pub to break up the confrontation.
Prosecutor Robin Harrison said Lawrence - who was known to officers as a "Colchester problem supporter" - then joined the group as they shouted at the Southend contingent through French doors facing the road.
He said: "Mr Lawrence was seen to kick the doors several times, until they broke."
Gareth Morgan, mitigating, denied that Lawrence, an assistant at Chelmsford station, was a habitual hooligan.
Published Thursday September 2, 2004
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