FIVE Oxford United fans have been banned from games and scolded by a judge who said their violent actions during a mass brawl echoed scenes of historic football disasters.

Some had been drinking as early as 9am on February 9 before trouble erupted near the Kassam Stadium as the U’s prepared to play Bristol Rovers.

Fights broke out at the Priory pub next to the stadium and inside the car park before disorder broke out near the ground at about 2.45pm, Oxford magistrates heard yesterday.

Thames Valley Police reacted by launching Operation Boot, which brought 32 arrests. Last month six admitted their guilt, and 11 more defendants appeared yesterday.

The court was shown CCTV footage of groups chanting “We’re Oxford United, we do what we want” at police, who used batons and horses to control the crowds.

Construction worker Keiran Hughes, of Andersey Way, Abingdon, was one of those who yesterday admitted his involvement.

The 19-year-old was turned in to police by his grandmother after his picture and others were printed in the Oxford Mail. Hughes, along with Stephen Reason, of Newlands, King’s Sutton near Banbury; Luke Latimer, of Hilliat Fields, Drayton, near Abingdon; Tom Grant, of Waterworks Cottages, Swinford near Witney; and Jeffrey Moss, of Thorney Leys, Witney, admitted causing harassment, alarm or distress.

Twenty two-year-old Reason was also made subject of a 10.30pm-7am curfew effective for 12 weeks every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.

He admitted kicking a barrier towards police.

District judge Andrew Vickers made them all subject to a three-year football banning order and issued several fines.

Mr Vickers said: “When policing events like this, such disorder can result in the kind of disasters we have seen at football grounds in the past.”

Fuel engineer Moss, 40, was given the largest fine, totalling £635.

He had been attending games for 30 years and was said to be “devastated and remorseful” having never been in trouble before February’s events.

Hughes, 19, was fined £415; Latimer, 20, was made to pay £459, and Grant, 19, was made to pay £360.

  • Six others, 28-year-old Shaun Morris, 28, of Blakes Field, Didcot; Helen Marsters, 34, of Masons Road, Headington; Gavin Butler, 26, of Abbey Road, Banbury; Jack Sullivan, 18, of Bridle Path, Woodcote, Reading; 51-year-old Nicholas Howells, of Coniston Road, Patchway, Bristol; and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons all deny the charges against them. They will return to the court for trial on Thursday, September 12.