Shame of football thugs

Fears of a new breed of middle-class soccer thug were raised today after a judge's son and a London Underground manager were jailed for football violence.

Student Matthew Carroll, 19, whose father Judge Michael Carroll sits at Woolwich Crown Court, was seen "swaggering around, self-satisfied, enjoying the occasion" during a riot in Croydon town centre in June last year.

He was among about 400 thugs who threw bricks, bottles, and glasses at police and caused more than £250,000 of damage after England went out of the Euro 2004 competition in a penalty shoot-out.

In a separate case, a gang of seven football hooligans - including Michael Parle, a £38,000-a-year married LU manager - were jailed for their part in a street battle. The seven men, all members of West Ham United's infamous Inter City Firm, were caught on camera as they brawled with Cardiff City fans after a game at Upton Park.

In the first case, Croydon Crown Court heard more than £250,000 worth of damage was caused to property in the town centre after the Euro 2004 riot. Bus passengers cowered in terror as windows were smashed and cars attacked.

The court witnessed CCTV footage of Carroll - who had consumed 14 cans and bottles of lager as well as four shots of tequila - hurling bins at police and shop windows. He was seen kicking a bus and pushing over a wheeliebin before rummaging inside for a missile to throw at police.

The student, who lives with his father and mother, later injured his foot by stamping on two pizza delivery mopeds and was taken to hospital by friends. The student, who has no previous convictions, gave himself up to police after he was later named by another yob.

Carroll appeared alongside five other defendants, all of whom pleaded guilty to violent disorder. All the defendants were banned from football grounds for six years and banned from watching England games in pubs.

Carroll's barrister, Anthony Heaton-Armstrong, pleaded for a community sentence on the grounds that Carroll would get rough treatment behind bars. However, Judge Cedric Joseph jailed him for 27 months in a young offender institution for his "very considerable" role. The judge said: "You had clearly been drinking very heavily but that is no excuse at all. You are seen swaggering around, self-satisfied, enjoying the occasion, jumping up and down."

In the other case, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard how West Ham fans - including father-of-two Parle, who is also a former soldier - clashed with rival supporters after a match last February.

Nicholas Corsellis, prosecuting, said police had planned to " contain" supporters inside Upton Park for an hour after the game but Cardiff hooligans broke through a police line at the ground's lower Centenary stand.

The court heard some of the yobs threw missiles back at the Cardiff fans as the violence escalated. No one was hurt. Parle, 37, from Barking, was among seven people given sentences ranging from 10 to 12 months. One of them, Paul Row, 38, is a notorious ICF member.

Judge Georges Khayat QC told them: "Society is sick and tired of people who choose to turn to violence to the detriment of other street users." They were banned from attending football games in England for seven years.