Violence flaired at away fixture (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Violence flaired at away fixture

THREE Swindon Town FC fans have been banned from all football games in England and Wales after they were involved in a violent clash at an away game in Bournemouth.

The trio are among 17 supporters being prosecuted after trouble flared at the match in December last year.

Christopher Sawford, 26, of Wordsworth Drive, Swindon, Craig Tuck, 25, of Yiewsley Crescent, Lower Stratton and Kevin Pike, 33, of Bramwell Close, Stratton all received three-year bans from magistrates in Bournemouth yesterday.

They are now not allowed to attend any matches in England or Wales and will also have to surrender their passports when the national team plays abroad.

They were accused of a public order offence and had previously denied the charge.

Around 700 fans travelled from Swindon to watch the game on December 18.

District Judge Roger House said it had been a "frightening and terrifying" experience for scores of Christmas shoppers who witnessed the scenes.

Around 40 fans were caught up in the fracas in a busy shopping area near Bournemouth's Dean Court stadium.

The clashes led to the biggest crackdown on football violence ever carried out by Swindon Police.

Officers spent hours studying CCTV footage to identify the troublemakers.

Seventeen Swindon Town fans were arrested in March.

The other 14 are yet to be dealt with.

Although Swindon does not have a reputation for soccer thuggery, it does have a so-called 'firm.'

The SAS Swindon Active Service has its own website which features adverts for DVDs containing footage of fights between rival fans.

Tamsin Davis