Simon Badham received a three-year football banning order.
A SOUTH Tyneside football yob described as a “genuinely decent member of society” has been slapped with a banning order after a violent clash between rival fans.
Simon Badham avoided jail after admitting violent disorder following a mass street brawl between Sunderland and West Ham supporters.
The 21-year-old, from Frobisher Street, Hebburn, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 250 hours’ unpaid work. He was also given a three-year banning order.
Badham was one of four men to appear at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced over the violence, which erupted outside Revolution bar in Sunderland on January 12.
Judge Jeremy Freedman said Badham is usually a “genuinely decent member of society”.
Also sentenced was Kevin Bilton, 51, of Lambton Drive, Hetton, who admitted violent disorder and was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 100 hours of unpaid work.
Sean Herron, 19, of Hogarth Drive, Columbia, Washington, who handed in a stash of testimonials to his usually positive character, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 250 hours of unpaid work.
Shaun Baker, 29, of Gainsborough Square, Sunderland, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years with £500 costs.
All pleaded guilty to violent disorder and were given three-year football banning orders.
Judge Freedman said he accepted the men were ashamed of what they had done, and accepted none of them had been involved in the organising of the brawl by the Sunderland Youth Firm and rival supporters.
