TWO teenage hooligans who pelted a York City supporters’ bus with rocks have been banned from watching football for five years.

Two people were injured when yobs hurled a brick and stones at the windows of two York City supporters’ minibuses following the club’s defeat at Barrow last September.

Cumbria Police arrested five people including two boys aged 15 and 16. Neither can be named, but both have now pleaded guilty before magistrates to actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

The 16-year-old was given a referral order, and the 15-year-old was given a youth rehabilitation order. Both were banned from football grounds for five years, and ordered to pay compensation to their victims.

Sergeant Colin Sutherland, head of North Yorkshire Police’s football liaison team, said he welcomed the result, but some supporters from the bus were still scarred by the experience.

He said: “I arrived with colleagues from Barrow police moments after the attack and could see for myself, the horrendous head injuries suffered by the victims. It was shocking to see, as was the obvious shock and trauma caused to the other supporters on the coach, which included children.

“I am happy to report that the victims in this case have made a decent recovery from their physical scars following extended treatment at hospital, but the mental scars of that day will remain, for them and all on the coaches, for some time I’m sure.”

York Press:

Cumbria Police were unable to confirm whether the other three individuals would appear before the courts, but Sgt Sutherland said it was “a sad state of affairs that some people still find it necessary to behave in this manner in the name of the team they support”.

He said: “I am pleased that thanks to swift police action and intervention by our colleagues in Barrow, those responsible for this attack have been brought to justice and have been convicted of assault and criminal damage.

“I am also pleased the magistrates felt that a Football Banning Order on each of them was necessary and proportionate.

"This will ensure that they are unable to attend football matches for a significant amount of time, ensuring that fans can attend football matches feeling safe from the kind of attack we have witnessed on this occasion."

Inspector Gareth Jesson from Cumbria Police said: "We welcome the sentencing decision from the court, which supports the lengthy and detailed investigation carried out by officers. This was a particularly cowardly attack on innocent victims, and it is no stretch to say that we could have been looking at fatalities.

“I feel sure the vast majority of football fans in this town would wish to disassociate themselves with this incident, and the actions of a few have unfortunately tarnished their good reputation.

"It is reassuring to know the courts take such unacceptable behaviour seriously and I hope this verdict serves as a suitable reminder to others that this sort of behaviour has no place whatsoever in relation to football, or in society.”