CONVICTED (2023) | Lewis Hill, born c. 2000, of Collett Place, Latton, Swindon SN6 6EH – threw a firework towards police officers, injuring four of them and a police dog.
Football thug Lewis Hill injured a police dog and four officers after launching an exploding firework at them.
Hill threw the firework towards a group of police officers ahead of Swindon Town’s clash with Bristol Rovers on 22 January 2022.
The firework exploded at the feet of the four officers, causing minor injuries, while PD Ross suffered burns to his nose. Ross has since returned to work as a police dog.
Ross suffered burns to his nose but has now returned to his duties as a police dog with Wiltshire Police
In court, Hill admitted one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and four counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
Hill was tracked down through CCTV and witness statements, Wiltshire Police said.
Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, Catherine Roper, said: “To throw a firework towards any group of people is an incredibly reckless and dangerous act.
“Assaults against police officers and police animals will never be tolerated.
“If you assault an officer or any other emergency services worker then be prepared to be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.”
Dog unit manager Ian Partington said: “It is pleasing to see that Mr Hill has been jailed for his actions and that offences against officers and police dogs are taken seriously.
“Thankfully PD Ross has been able to continue his career and is performing well as a police dog.”
Sentencing | four months’ imprisonment. Three-year football banning order.
CONVICTED (2020) | football hooligan Derek Jennings, born c. 1967, of Laburnum Grove, Portsmouth PO2 0EU – punched a police horse on the nose then swung at her two more times
Jennings pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder after attacking police horse Luna before a local derby football match on 24 September 2019.
The court heard a police commander had noticed Jennings becoming aggressive towards officers and rival fans during the build-up to the match.
The officer riding Luna headed towards Jennings, who clenched his first and punched the horse on the nose. The mare shied away from the attack, but Jennings swung at Luna twice more before he attempted to run away. He was quickly arrested, however, and taken into custody
Luna was uninjured in the attack and able to remain on duty.
DCI John McGonigle of Hampshire Constabulary said: “For a grown man to act in this way was deplorable, especially against an animal, who was simply there to help protect people who wanted to enjoy the game and get home safely. We hope this sentence sends a clear message that we will not tolerate this type of behaviour or any disorder at any public event. Action will be taken and those responsible will be investigated.”
“We’d like to thank the public for the outpouring of support we received for Luna, it was very much appreciated,” he said.
Sentencing: 20 months in prison. Six-year football banning order.
CONVICTED (2020) | notorious sectarian thug Kevin ‘Magwa’ Maguire, born 12/06/1982, of Muirdrum Avenue, Cardonald, Glasgow G52 3AP – punched three police horses during a football riot
Notorious sectarian thug Kevin Maguire attacked three police horses during a pre-match riot
Celtic fan Kevin Maguire, who owns Casey’s Cafe in Elderpark Street, Govan, Glasgow, was part of a mob that attacked police officers and their horses ahead of a Scottish Cup tie against Airdrie.
The father-of-four, who goes by the nickname ‘Magwa’ and has previous convictions for football-related violence, claimed during his trial that he was an innocent bystander.
Police horse Oban was punched by football hooligan Kevin Maguire
But Sheriff John McCormick told him: “You were in fact one of the ringleaders of this mob.”
Police officer Sergeant Mark Stewart attended the match and he described the violence as the “worst riot” he had ever seen.
“When I got there, Airdrie fans were being blocked from getting into the ground by Celtic fans,” he said.
“There were families trying to get in and bricks and missiles getting flung as well as spitting and throwing lit cigarettes.
“It was very aggressive and this was the worst riot I had ever seen.”
Maguire’s lawyer pleaded with the court not to jail his client due to his family responsibilities but that argument cut no ice with Sheriff John McCormick who sent him straight to prison
The officer told the court that Maguire was “directing others” during the violent incident and said he saw him attack the three police horses outside the ground.
He added: “I asked him to move and he punched my horse Oban on the muzzle which caused him to react.
“It was a full-blown punch and he also punched police horse Glasgow on the face.”
Nerston was also attacked by Maguire
Sgt Stewart said another police horse Nerston was also punched later on.
Maguire was described as a “prime mover” in the violence orchestrated against police.
Lawyer Michael McKeown, representing Maguire, unsuccessfully urged the sheriff not to jail his client.
Mr McKeown said: “He has got significant family responsibility. He is looking after his young baby and three other children.
“He works as an engineer and earns £600 a week. That employment is still open to him. He also has a business interest in a cafe.”
The court heard that Maguire told social workers who compiled a report on him that he was on ‘an alcohol binge and had no memory of the offence.
The court had heard that Maguire was previously banned from every football ground in the UK.
He was also out on bail at the time of the police horse attack in January 2019.
Maguire was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to police horses Nerston, Oban and Glasgow, assaulting two police officers and acting in a threatening and abusive manner.
Sentencing: 10 months in prison. Banned from every football ground in the UK for a further five years.
Maguire, now of Drumchapel in north Glasgow, appeared in court charged with stealing the city’s Commonwealth Games mascot. The trial is set for January 2023.
