17 men appear in court charged with conspiring violent disorder on day of England's match in Wolverhampton in 2022
A group of 17 men have appeared in court charged with conspiring to cause violent disorder in Wolverhampton when England' played Hungary at Molineux in June 2022.
The 17 men, aged between 21 and 39, are from Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley and Staffordshire with the furthest afield being from Telford.
The group crowded inside Court 2 at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday morning (Tuesday) standing both inside and outside the dock. One defendant appeared on video link from prison.
All were charged with conspiring to commit violent disorder.
On June 14, 2022, the CPS say they "conspired together with other persons to use or threaten unlawful violence when present together with more than three others to threaten or use unlawful violence which would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his or her personal safety."
England played a rare game away from Wembley when they took on Hungary at The Molineux in the Nations League. Gareth Southgate's team suffered a rare defeat but the occasion was marred by football violence.
All of the defendants will return on March 13 to enter pleas and then due to the sheer number of defendants and evidence they are being split into two groups ahead of an expectant trial.
Ryan Connolly, 24, of Bilbrook Road, Bilbrook, Mark Hodgetts, 36, Coleman Street, Wolverhampton, Jamie Dickinson, 25, Amos Lane, Wolverhampton, Daniel Lloyd, 28, Penkridge New Road, Cannock and Nathan Pearce, 30, Woden Avenue, Wolverhampton, Jamie Haden, 22, West Road, Telford, Jordon Francis, 32, Wood Street, Darlaston, Ryan McDonagh, 32, Brewood Road, Coven, Ward Morgan, 37, Merridale Road, Wolverhampton and Cael MacDonnell, 23, Castle Street, Stafford, will stand trial in January 18 next year.
And Thomas McGrath, 21, North Green, Wolverhampton, Kaylan Barton, 23, Birmingham New Road, Dudley, James Phillips, 35, Willingsworth Road, Wednesbury, Ricky O'Rourke, 35, Ennerdale Road, Wolverhampton, Marlon Grant, 32, West Green, Wolverhampton, George Wilmott, 22, Parkes Hall Road, Woodsetton and Daniel Pitt, 24 and Old Heath Road, Wolverhampton, will be standing trial in April 12 next year.
Judge Laura Hobson told the men: "You will be required to enter your pleas on March 13. You are on unconditional bail until that hearing and you must stay in touch with your legal team throughout this period.
"You must attend this hearing on March and if you don't you are liable for prosecution."