Jail for Palace bird puncher

A Charlton Athletic fan who threw a punch Crystal Palace’s eagle mascot during a brawl between rival supporters was jailed for 21 months today. (Fri)

Convicted football hooligan Daniel Boylett, 36, targeted ‘Kayla’ the American bald eagle as tensions rose during the Capital One Cup south London derby at Selhurst Park on September 23, 2015.

Charlton lost 4-1 on the day and there were ugly scenes ‘before, during and after the game’ as police struggled to control rampaging fans throwing punches, missiles and flares.

Boylett, a father of three was seen throwing punches at stewards who struggled to contain fans in the ‘mayhem’ of the second half.

He was convicted of attempted criminal damage and violent disorder and banned from games for six years in addition to his jail term.

Fellow Charlton fan and convicted drug dealer Colin Kitto, 49, who was seen with a phone constantly to his ear as he marshaled other yobs, was sentenced to 18 months for violent disorder.

He threw a punch and a beer can at a police officer before the game and was also banned from going to football matches for six years.

Sam Donegan, 25, received a nine months suspended for two years for affray and criminal damage and banned from games for three years.

He destroyed a fast food sign in the ground at half time and rushed at a police officer holding a ‘large yellow weighted cone’ after fighting rival fans in Holmesdale Road after the game.

Father of four Billy Cowcher, 32, was sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years for violent disorder and also banned for three years.

He jumped over seats with his arms out and landed on stewards struggling to hold aggressive Charlton fans back.

Sergeant Emma Dickinson, who has more than 10 years experience as a public order officer, said it was ‘the worst level of disorder I have ever experienced at a football match – and I have policed many’.

Judge Warwick McKinnon said ‘normal, peaceful, respectable’ supporters were ‘horrified’ and ‘terrified’ by football violence like this.

Boylett swung for the bird as her handler Chris Belsey walked her past away supporters in the Arthur Wait stand.

‘Because of her delicate bone structure if she had been hit and hit with force her bones could easily break,’ prosecutor Daniel Higgins.

Luckily Kayla, who has been entertaining fans and posing for pictures since 2010 and, was unhurt.

The ‘priceless’ bald eagle is 25 years old and had lived at Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation in Eynsford, Kent for the past 20 years after being rescued.

Boylett, who runs his own locksmith business, Locksmith Rescue Ltd, was part of a group of Charlton fans that planned a series of organised attacks on police, stewards and rival fans.

Mr Higgins described how before the game away fans had met in the Flora Sandes Wetherspoon pub in Thornton Heath.

Scaffolding supervisor Kitto, wearing a Burberry cap, was standing outside controlling who was going in and out.

Police began escorting the fans towards Selhurst Park at around 7pm but they broke off from the agreed route and headed towards home fan pub the Clifton Arms led by Kitto.

After police officers set up a cordon the Charlton fans turned on them.

‘The group pushed, kicked and punched the police officers trying to hold fast,’ said Mr Higgins.

‘One officer was struck with what he believes may be a bottle that caused a cut to his lip.’

Once inside the stadium the violence continued with Charlton fans throwing ‘bottles, smoke bombs and flares’.

Senior steward of 30 years Gary Winters said it descended in ‘chaos’ as there were ‘too many people who came looking for trouble’.

Mr Higgins said stewards were ‘punched, sworn at, spat at and racially abused’ as they tried to prevent Charlton fans getting at the Palace supporters.

‘Mr Boylett is seen to throw punches at stewards, at least one of those connected,’ he said.

Mr Higgins said Donegan, who lives at home with his mum, was part of ‘possibly several hundred’ fans kicking off and police were ‘struggling to keep order’ after the game.

He rushed at a police officer holding a ‘large yellow weighted cone’ before being taken down by the officer’s baton.

Donegan admitted his ‘idiotic behaviour’ during police interview.

Cowcher, a scaffolder, was caught on CCTV as he ‘jumped over a seat with arms stretched out and landed on two stewards’ in a ‘Dennis the Menace top’.

Boylett has convictions for assault, criminal damage, using threatening words and behaviour, harassment and being drunk at a sporting event.

In 2007 he was given a 12-month sentence at Inner London Crown Court for violent disorder after fighting with Northampton Town fans at Kings Cross station.

Kitto, who spent time behind bars with Jeffrey Archer, has convictions for criminal damage, threatening behaviour, obstructing the police and affray.

He received five years in prison in 1999 for threatening police officers with a bottle in Floyd’s Bar inside the Charlton stadium.

In 2001 he was convicted of pouring petrol on Yates’ Wine Bar in Catford and setting it alight.

Although it was charged as a domestic violence offence it is believed Kitto knew Crystal Palace fans were inside the pub at the time.

In 2001 at Maidstone Crown Court Kitto, who will become a granddad while behind bars, received four and a half years for possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply.

Cowcher and Donegan have never been in trouble with the police before.

Judge McKinnon said: ‘It is not just the individual contribution to violence that is relevant when one comes to deal with sentence but the overall scope of the violence when these individual contributions are made.

‘In nearly all cases deterrent sentences are required so that those who attend football matches know that if they do misbehave in a violent way they know what the consequences will be.

‘Most people who attend matches are normal, peaceful and respectable with an actual interest in football matches and are terrified and horrified and want no part of it.’

‘Mr Kitto the sentence of the court is one of 18 months imprisonment and a football banning order lasting a period of six years.’

Turning to Boylett he said: ‘The total sentence is one of 21 months imprisonment for count four and three months imprisonment for count two and a football banning order for six years.’

‘Cowcher on count four the sentence is 12 months suspended for two years and a football banning order for three year.’

‘On counts three and five the total sentence is nine months imprisonment on count five and one month on count three to run concurrently suspended for a period of two years and a football banning order of three years.’

The defendants hugged eachother as their sentences were announced.

Boylett gave the thumbs up to his family and Kitto touched hands with his girlfriend through the glass as they were taken down to the cells.

Boylett, of Churchbury Road, Eltham, was sentenced to 21 months for violent disorder and three months attempting to damage property to run concurrently.

He was given a football banning order for six years.

Kitto of Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, was sentenced to 18 months for violent disorder and also banned from attending games for six years.

Cowcher, of Glasbrook Road, Greenwich, was sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years after admitting violent disorder and given 200 hours unpaid work.

Donegan of Porthkey Avenue, Welling, Bexley, was given nine months suspended for two years and 150 hours unpaid work for affray after the jury acquitted him of violent disorder and criminal damage.

They were both banned from football matches for three years and were each ordered to pay £1,000 costs.