FOUR men who caused trouble at an Oxford United game have been given community sentences despite a judge admitting “it’s difficult to pin different things to particular people”.

Mark Heeley, Dale Macer, Nicholas Walker and Law-rence Whitney were sentenced at Oxford Magistrates’ Court over trouble at the Kassam Stadium after the Aldershot match on Saturday, October 9.

In total, 25 people have been charged in relation to Oxford’s games against Port Vale and Aldershot in October. All but three admitted their charges and the remaining men are awaiting trial.

Sarah Mackay, prosecuting at Wednesday’s hearing, said Aldershot fans were “openly goading and gesturing at the Oxford fans at the final whistle” and “it was clear many Oxford fans left the ground looking to cause problems”.

A police cordon was placed around the away fans’ coaches at the rear of the North Stand but, Mrs Mackay said: “A large group of ‘Oxford risk’ and associates, including these defendants, about 150 in number, gathered in the area of the car park.”

She said home supporters shouted abuse at police and opposing fans and Walker “charged towards police lines” and “was heard to shout South Midland Hit Squad, the name of a risk group associated with Oxford”.

The court heard Whitney spat at an officer but missed.

An earlier hearing was told Macer was seen by an off-duty policeman throwing a half-full bottle of Coke towards Aldershot fans.

Heeley, 43, of Church Cowley Road, Oxford, admitted using words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Walker, 30, of Hamfield, Wantage, admitted two counts of intentionally using words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Whitney, 34, of Broadmarsh Lane, Freeland, admitted intentionally using words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Macer, 42, of Centaury Place, Greater Leys admitted using words or behaviour to cause fear of violence.

District Judge Tim Pattinson, who had viewed CCTV footage, gave each man 120 hours’ unpaid work, a three-year football ban and charged them £85 costs.

He said: “It’s a group offence, that’s why it’s a public order offence, and it’s difficult to pin different things to particularly people.”

Meanwhile, three Aldershot Town fans were sentenced at Oxford Maigstrates’ Court yesterday after admitting public order offences.

Craig Taylor of Feathercombe Lane, Hambledon, Surrey, and Kendal Sparkes, of Egret Gardens, Aldershot, Hampshire, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Taylor, 21, was fined £150, £85 costs and a £15 victims’ surcharge. Sparkes, 44, was fined £200, £85 costs and a £15 victims’ surcharge.

A 16-year-old Shots fan, who cannot be named, climbed on segregation netting in the North Stand and admitted the same charge.

He was fined £80 plus a £15 victims’ surcharge.

All three were given three-year bans.

A fourth Aldershot fan, Perry Smith, is due for sentence next week.