Rangers fans guilty of worst destruction since the Blitz

All but one of 12 rioting Rangers football hooligans who took part in the worst destruction Manchester has suffered "since the Blitz" will be going to jail, a judge has said.

They were among hundreds of fans who caused "mayhem" at the Uefa Cup final held in the city two years ago.

Police were attacked and property damaged in the hours of violence in the city centre, and two police officers - Mick Regan and John Goodwin - were caught by the mob, surrounded and battered.

Several of the defendants Manchester Crown Court yesterday put thumbs up to weeping relatives in the public gallery as they were led down to the cells.

But then Scottish accents could be heard shouting up to the courtroom: "F*** Manchester! F*** Pc Regan and Goodwin as well!"

Passing sentence Judge Andrew Blake said: "The riot police were deployed in full riot gear and struggled to contain the trouble and restore order. What followed was the worst night of violence and destruction suffered by Manchester city centre since the Blitz."

There were audible gasps from the public gallery as he jailed Scott McSeveney for three and a half years for violent disorder and the assault on Pc John Goodwin.

Pc Goodwin was separated from his detachment, outnumbered by tens of fans and attacked.

Brought to the ground he was stamped on and kicked and said later he thought he was going to die at the hands of the mob.

He was only saved after a Rangers fan, Sharon Gibson, lay across him and her boyfriend shouted: "You are letting the team down!"

Ms Gibson was awarded the "paltry but conventional sum" of 200 by Judge Blake, who thanked her and paid tribute to her "enormous courage".

McSeveney, 22, of Hunter Avenue, Shotts, Lanarkshire, was convicted after trial of the offences and also given an eight-year football banning order.

Mark Stoddart, 27, of Westmuir Street, Glasgow, was jailed for two and a half years for violent disorder and assaulting Pc Mick Regan and also given an eight-year football banning order.

Both men and the other defendants were captured after being identified through CCTV footage taken during the riots.

Only one fan, David Annette, was not jailed for his role in the disturbances. He was given a 12-month suspended sentence and ordered to serve 180 hours' community service..

An estimated 125,000 Rangers fans, most without tickets for the game at the City of Manchester stadium, descended on the city, drinking pubs and supermarkets dry.Trouble erupted in a fan zone after a giant screen in Piccadilly Gardens in the city centre failed to work close to kick-off time.

The Rangers game, which the side lost to Zenit St Petersburg, was supposed to be a "celebration of football" but descended into mayhem.

Riot police said later that they had never encountered disorder of such "ferocity and intensity".

When the hearing resumed, Judge Blake sentenced the remaining defendants.

After passing sentence on the last defendant, Judge Blake praised police for their investigation and said thank-you on behalf of Manchester's citizens

Outside court, the match commander for the game, Chief Superintendent Gerry Donnellan, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "A number of supporters and officers were injured and many innocent members of the public were concerned for their safety. It must have been terrifying for anyone caught up in it.

"All of these defendants took part in that violence and must share some of the responsibility for the disorder in our city that night. I must pay tribute to both the investigation team and to members of the public who helped us identify these people.

"Without the great response of the Scottish public to our publicity campaign we may not have found these football hooligans."

The twelve fans who shamed Scotland:

David Annette

Age: 35

Offence: Pleaded guilty to violent disorder. He was given a six-month sentence, suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 180 hours' community service.

James Bell

Age: 43

Offence: Threw four or five missiles at police. Jailed for 12 months for violent disorder with a six-year football banning order.

Gordon Forrest

Age: 36

Offence: Was involved in battles with the police, inciting others to join in. Jailed for 14 months for violent disorder and given a six-year football banning order.

Brian McVicar

Age: 20

Offence: Threw two bottles at police. Sent to a young offenders' institution for 21 months and given a six-year football banning order.

Michael Hindle

Age: 22

Offence: Seen throwing a bottle at police. Jailed for eight months for violent disorder and given a six-year football banning order.

David McCullough

Age: 21

Offence: Threw a bottle at police. Jailed for six months for violent disorder and given a six-year football banning order.

Greg McKenna

Age: 23

Offence: Threw a bottle at police and was jailed for 18 months for violent disorder and given a six-year football banning order.

Scott McSeveney

Age: 22

Offence: Received the longest of all the sentences. He was jailed for three and a half years for violent disorder and the assault on Pc John Goodwin.

Thomas Murphy

Age: 28

Offence: Threw bottles at police. He already has a series of convictions for violence. Jailed for 14 months for violent disorder and a six-year football ban.

John Saunders

Age: 32

Offence: Attacked a police van and threw a bottle at officers. Given another sentence of 15 months for violent disorder and a six-year football ban.

William McSporran

Age: 18

Offence: Threw bottles at police. Sentenced to 12 months in a young offenders' institution for violent disorder and given a six- year football banning order.

Mark Stoddart

Age: 27

Offence: Jailed for two and a half years for violent disorder and assaulting Pc Mick Regan. Given an eight-year football banning order.