Police hit fans with batons ahead of Wolves match, trial hears
A football fan accused of affray was trying to get away from police who were hitting supporters with batons after scuffles broke out before a Wolves game, a jury has been told.
Ben Richardson, who is on trial with five other fans for affray, told Wolverhampton Crown Court he was trying to get away from officers who were using batons to hit fans amid violence before the Wolves game against Leeds on February 9 last year.
Earlier in the trial, the court heard that Richardson had been seen by police officers to shout "come on" at Leeds fans.
But the 26-year-old, of Pebble Close, Stourbridge, said he had gone to Wolverhampton to sell tickets for a charity event.
He told the jury yesterday he had been outside The Moon Under Water pub on the day of the match but did not shout or threaten anyone.
He said: "I tried to go back to the bus station to go home but the police had blocked the road, and I was told to go back the other way.
"I spoke to a police officer to see where was safe for me to go and he told me to go to The Wanderer.
"I thought that would be a good idea because I could sell some more tickets there if I saw anyone I knew who was going to the game."
CCTV showed scuffles breaking out between fans and police at the entrance of the subway near the ground, and Richardson could be seen walking around on the concourse.
Richardson 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.
"Everyone was having a look at what was going on, just being nosy, but didn't want to get involved.
"I moved away because I saw that the police were using force to move people away so I just kept moving down the street."
Earlier in the trial, fellow accused Nicholas Ward, 39, of Foxwood Road, Birchmoor, in Tamworth, said he was seen on CCTV because he was being pushed by the crowd down the street.
He said: "The police were sending us down the road. I wanted to go to the game but because of the situation I was pushed down the road."
Both defendants, as well as Jordan Banks, 18, of Peach Road, Willenhall, Ricky Bates, 27, of Church Street, Tipton, Stourbridge, Ryan Richardson, 30, of Ambleside Close, Bradley, and Nicholas Smith, 40, of Alder Road, Wednesbury, deny affray.
Banks and Smith also pleaded not guilty to a second charge of affray, while Ryan Richardson admitted a second affray charge.
The trial continues.
