The steward thought fans might stop if they saw a woman getting involved but violence flared and she was then kicked by other Birmingham City fans
Never miss a thing from all parts of our city – sign up for free email alerts
A football fan who dragged a female steward into a seating area during violence after a match at Elland Road has been jailed.
Ben Smith climbed over rows of seats and pulled the steward away from helping her colleagues before fellow fans kicked her.
Leeds Crown Court previously heard how one of the team’s fans sparked the ‘worst violence in a decade’ at the stadium by running onto the pitch after Leeds United ‘s 1-0 victory at the EFL Championship match on October 19 last year.
Around 30 away fans tried to stop him from being arrested by punching, kicking and spitting at stewards and police officers.
Smith, of The Severn, Daventry, Northamptonshire, was jailed for seven months today (Monday) after pleading guilty to violent disorder.
The 33-year-old dad is one of 26 men and two youths charged with violent disorder following a series of public appeals for information.
Fourteen of the men were sentenced earlier this month, with seven men receiving immediate custodial sentences.
One man steward suffered a head and back injury after being knocked to the ground and punched and kicked by Birmingham City supporters. A female steward had her head stamped on.
Miss Pearson said one steward told police: « It felt like a war zone. I was concerned for my own safety, my colleagues and also the police officers. »
Ian Crawford, who at the time was Leeds United operations director, said in a statement: « They were demonstrating a real hatred towards the stewards and police who were present, and I would say this is the worst violence I have seen in over ten years. »
Mr Crawford suffered an injury to his eye and had to have an operation on his eyelid.
Leeds United’s 100-year anniversary celebrations were planned at the end of the match and a significant number of Birmingham City fans remained in the stadium after the final whistle.
Some Birmingham City fans later got on to Elland Road and bottles and traffic cones were thrown during confrontations with Leeds United fans.
The court was shown CCTV footage of Smith climbing over seats, grabbing his victim by the arm and pulling her out of the aisle to the area where he had been sitting.
Smith had no previous convictions but had been cautioned for being drunk at a sporting event.
Kevin Waddingham, mitigating, said his client had acted out of ‘misplaced loyalty’ to another Birmingham City fan who he did not know.
He said Smith handed himself in to police after seeing an appeal in the press and admitted what he had done.
Mr Waddingham said his client, who has dyspraxia, works full-time in Sainsbury’s to support his partner and child.
Sentencing Smith, Judge Andrew Stubbs QC told him: « One steward thought if fans saw a woman getting involved they might stop.
« You grabbed hold of her arm and dragged her in the seating away from her efforts to stop the situation.
