HILL: RIOT THUG GUILTY
A teenage football yob involved in violent clashes between Portsmouth FC supporters and police in which an officer was glassed is facing prison.
Marvin Hill, 19, threatened and hurled abuse at officers as they tried to prevent trouble erupting between drunken fans after Pompey’s 1-0 FA Cup final defeat at the hands of Chelsea at Wembley last year.
As police fought to control the crowd of Portsmouth supporters he was heard shouting ‘Come on’ and ‘Get rid of your dog and I will take you on’.
During the incident on May 15 acting police sergeant Damian Hill suffered cuts to his face after a pint glass was thrown at him.
A police dog also received cuts to its paws after treading on broken glass from a bottle that shattered at its feet.
Hill was convicted by a jury of one count of affray after a trial which began on August 1.
He was tried with Brian Smith, 50, who was alleged to have been responsible for throwing a pint glass at Sgt Hill and hurling a bottle towards police dog ‘Texas’.
Smith was cleared on Monday by the jury of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and damaging property.
Southwark Crown Court heard how ugly scenes flared between police and Portsmouth FC outside The Perseverance, in Shroton Street, Marylebone, in north-west London.
Police had moved in to stop violence erupting between Pompey and Chelsea FC fans, who were drinking at a nearby pub when they came under a barrage of flying glass.
Prosecutor Charles Evans told the court: ‘While all this was happening Marvin Hill was seen shouting ‘Come on’ and other things like ‘Get rid of your dog and I will take you on’.
‘It was designed to ratchet up the feeling that were already high.’
He said Hill had admitted in interview being present and acting in an aggressive manner but denied that he had used or threatened unlawful violence.
Smith told the jury he had been drinking from plastic cups at the time of the incident and had not thrown any glass.
Smith, of (320) Chatsworth Avenue, Portsmouth, was found not guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and damaging property.
Hill, of (43) Thorncroft Road, Portsmouth, was convicted of one count of affray.
He was remanded on bail ahead of sentencing on September 15.
ENDS
