Mon, 07 Jul 2014
Ben Richardson, 26, Stourbridge, is on trial with five other football fans accused of affray. He has told Wolverhampton Crown Court that he was trying to get away from police officers who were hitting fans with batons amid violence before a Wolves v Leeds match on 9th February 2013.
The jury heard that Richardson had been seen by police officers shouting at Leeds fans, but he denies this and said he was in Wolverhampton to sell tickets to a charity event.
CCTV shows fights breaking out between fans and police near the football ground, and Richardson can be seen walking around on the concourse.
He said, "I was just trying to find a way out of there and get away from the police, because they were just hitting people with batons".
Ecky Tiwana, member of No5 Chambers, is representing Ben Richardson.
Four other defendants all deny affray: Jordan Banks, 18, Willenhall, Ricky Bates, 27, Tipton, Ryan Richardson, 30, Bradley, and Nicholas Smith, 40, Wednesbury. Banks and Smith both pleaded not guilty to a second charge of affray, and Richardson admitted a second charge of affray.
Please click here to read the article reported by the Express and Star.
Please click here to view Ecky Tiwana’s profile.
