Four Town fans have been handed suspended prison sentences having pleaded guilty to criminal damage at last season’s East Anglian derby at Carrow Road.
Appearing at Norwich Magistrates' Court yesterday, the four season ticket holders admitted to pulling down light fittings during the game on February 18th last year, causing damage which cost £5,820 to repair and delayed the start to the match, which ended 1-1.
The quartet - Ryan Macken, 18, and Dwayne Chingono, 22, from Ipswich, Lee Kerridge, 25, from Colchester, and Mark McBurney, 43, from Stowmarket - were given eight-week jail sentences suspended for 12 months.
They were also banned from attending football matches for three years, will carry out 150 hours of community service and must each pay £1,164 compensation to Norwich City, plus £85 in costs as well as a victim surcharge of £115.
A 19-year-old man will appear at Norwich Crown Court on February 12th having pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been released on bail.
The incident occurred on the concourse under the stand ahead of the game during a beer fight when light fittings were swung on and consequently torn down leaving electrical wires exposed while the floor was swimming in liquid. Radio transmission wires and stadium lights were also damaged.
The incident is understood to be what has led to the more stringent security measures introduced ahead of this year’s Carrow Road derby on February 10th.