A MAN from Uxbridge is among 50 'career football hooligans' who have been sentenced for violent behaviour during a FA Cup match.

John Devitt, of Grosvenor Crescent, was jailed for eight months for affray after being involved in disturbances which occurred during the Chelsea v Cardiff City 5 th Round match on February 13 last year.

The 45-year-old was also handed a six-year football banning order at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday (March 25).

The violence began in the run up to kick-off, when rival fans clashed in the Fulham Road area, and smoke bombs were set off.

After the final whistle, opposing supporters came face to face on Fulham Road, close to the Holmead Road junction, and fighting broke out.

More than 200 people were involved in a confrontation on Kings Road where bricks and traffic cones were used as missiles. A number of police officers were injured with one male officer needing surgery to his face.

Devitt was one of 25 men to be sentenced last Thursday (24) and Friday.

Also sentenced was alleged ringleader Jason Marriner, 43, of Yarmouth Road, Hertfordshire, who was previously the subject of an undercover investigation by TV journalist, Donal MacIntyre. He was jailed for two years and received an eight-year football banning order for violent disorder.

An additional 27 men were sentenced in February.

So far, 63 people have been convicted over the violence, with a further 31 people are still waiting to be dealt with by the criminal justice system.

Detective Superintendent William Lyle, of Operation Ternhill, which investigated the violence, said: "These sentences demonstrate that this kind of behaviour is entirely unacceptable to the police, the thousands of law-abiding football fans and the general public.

"The public perception is that football disorder involves young men fighting in the street but I must stress this is not the case.

"A large number of the men, who have now pleaded guilty or been convicted of charges in relation to this incident, are career football hooligans who have been involved in serious acts of violence over a number of years."

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