Hooligan banned from all grounds

A football hooligan has been banned from all grounds for three years after trouble flared at an FA Cup match between Shrewsbury Town and Walsall.

Craig Thomas Butler, of The Glebelands, Myddle, near Shrewsbury, was caught on a police officer’s head-mounted camera by British Transport Police during an altercation between rival fans.

The incident happened on November 10 last year when fighting broke out between Shrewsbury Town and Walsall fans near Tame Bridge Parkway Station in Wednesbury.

At Walsall Magistrates Court yesterday Butler admitted a charge of using threatening words or behaviour likely to cause fear of violence.

Mr Peter Smedley, prosecuting, showed a DVD video to the court in which the 24-year-old was seen swearing at and goading Walsall fans during a fight that had frightened families in a residential area.

Magistrates imposed a football banning order for three years and ordered Butler to serve 100 hours unpaid work in the community and pay £60 in costs.

Mr Steve Hamblett, for Butler, said his client was not involved in any fighting, saying he had lost his temper after being struck by an object and had got involved in a “moment of madness”.