Men in court after disorder before Swindon Town and Newport County match

James Trott was part of a group of what police claimed was up to 30 Swindon Town fans who confronted Newport supporters on Fleming Way on September 28.

The 26-year-old began yelling at the Welsh group and their police escort, showering them with verbal abuse and chanting “Red Army”.

When Trott repeatedly refused to move, police officers took him to the floor and attempted to restrain him as he continued his venomous verbal attack.

Trott and Groves outside Swindon Magistrates' Court

Pal Stephen Groves, who was part of the same group of Town supporters, was also arrested at the scene. Police later found he had a smoke bomb, which he claimed had been handed to him by a friend.

Appearing before Swindon Magistrates’ Court, Trott, of Severn Avenue, Haydon Wick, admitted disorderly behaviour. Groves, 34, of Aldbourne Close, Penhill, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour, possession of a smoke grenade while trying to enter a sports ground and possession of cannabis.

Pauline Lambert, prosecuting, said the charges related to events before Swindon Town’s ultimately unsuccessful League Two clash with Newport County. Town lost the game 2-0.

At around 1pm police were walking the Welsh fans from the town centre towards the County Ground. The group was in fine spirits, singing derogatory chants about Swindon. As they were walked onto Fleming Way, a group of up to 30 Town fans emerged from an alleyway.

The smoke grenade found on Groves Picture: CPS WESSEX

“They were very aggressive in demeanour. Shouting, swearing and pushing the officers in a bid to get to the rival fans,” Ms Lambert said.

“Officers warned the group and Mr Trott multiple times, but each time Mr Trott got more aggressive and tried to push past the officers until eventually they had to take him to the floor.”

Groves was said to have acted very aggressively, fronting up the officers and swearing at them.

PC Dan Hatt, Wiltshire Police’s specialist football officer, described Trott as a risk supporter. He had a previous conviction relating to disorder when Town took on Oxford United in 2017. Trott was arrested after he jumped onto the pitch, ran in front of the United fans and made provocative gestures.

Trott was also said to have travelled to Leyton Orient in September this year. After the game police were called to reports of an altercation in a pub outside the stadium.

Police take a suspect to the floor on Fleming Way Picture: SUBMITTED

PC Hatt claimed to have very rarely seen Trott at Town fixtures. There was a pattern of him attending those matches where there was more likely to be public disorder, the officer said.

That was disputed by Emma Thacker, representing Trott. She said her client regularly attended Town games with his colleagues, his girlfriend and even his young niece.

On the day of the Newport game Trott and Groves had been drinking in the Tap and Barrel pub on Manchester Road before wandering into town for another drink ahead of the match.

Both men admitted using foul language, but Ms Thacker said the Newport fans were “hurling it as well”. Neither had set out to get involved in violence that day and neither were football hooligans.

Ms Thacker said for Trott: “I think it is very clear when you are taking your girlfriend and your three or four-year-old niece to a football match your intention is not to cause fights.”

Groves had been to only three football matches in his life. The labourer had been out with colleagues that morning after doing a shift at work. He had been handed the smoke grenade by another in the group.

“This is a gentleman who is not somebody who’s deemed to be a risk supporter. Not somebody who’s deemed to be in a network of any unpleasant Swindon Town gangs,” Ms Thacker said.

Magistrates made the three-year order banning Trott from attending matches and from being in key areas around Swindon town centre before games. He was fined £192 and must pay £117 in costs and surcharge.

Groves was fined £425 and ordered to pay £117 in costs and surcharge.