Forest and Notts County fans sentenced after pub brawl

A South Normanton man has been sentenced for his part in an arranged fight between two sets of football fans.

Bottles, glasses and chairs were thrown as Nottingham Forest and Notts County fans clashed in the city’s The Major Oak pub on 19 March 2016.

Dylan Connor of Hill Fields, was among 10 men who pleaded guilty in July to affray.

Sentencing Judge Gregory Dickinson said the brawl, which happened after both teams lost games, was “stupid”.

Customers ‘panicked’

The court heard there were up to 250 people, including children, inside the pub when Notts County fans drinking there were involved in a stand-off with Forest fans who had just arrived.

Violence erupted among the fans and spilled into the pub.

Prosecutor Phil Gibbs said there was panic as innocent customers tried to get out of the way and it was “fairly miraculous” no members of the public were injured.

Earlier Mr Dickinson described the fight as a “serious disorder”, and told the group: “Some of you have escaped prison by the skin of your teeth”.