Court bans football fan from Oakley from attending matches after fight

A football fan from Oakley has been sentenced after a mum and her young child in a pram were caught up in a fight in Peterborough

Ben Farrant, 22, was one of five MK Dons supporters to appear before Peterborough Magistrates Court on July 21 along with one Peterborough United supporter.

The fans were involved in the fracas outside O’Neills pub in Broadway, at about 6pm on December 29 last year, before the two teams played that evening.

Farrant and Michael Carrington, 19, of Woodmans Close in Deanshanger, both received 200-hour community orders, fines and three-year football banning orders, having pleaded guilty to Section 4 public order offences.

Ben Cooper, 28, of Petersham Close in Newport Pagnell, and Lou Barry, 29, of Flexerne Crescent on Ashland, MK, received fines of £266, having pleaded guilty to Section 5 public order offences. They will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on September 12 where it will be decided whether they should receive banning orders.

Luke Williams, 28, of Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell, received a 200-hour community order and a fine, having pleaded guilty to Section 4 public order offences.

Steven Ford, 58, of Grove Street, Peterborough, also pleaded guilty to Section 5 public order offences and received a conditional discharge for 12 months.

The banning orders prohibit them from coming within two miles of MK Dons matches played at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes, and from attending away matches.

Football officer Mark Wood said: “This large fight took place at what was still a fairly busy time of the evening, next to a supermarket and a taxi rank.

“There was a complete disregard for the safety of the general public by all of those involved. This should have been an opportunity to enjoy an evening mid-week game of football during the Christmas break, but a very small minority of fans were intent on causing disorder.”