A notable incident involving Bristol City fans took place on 15 February when disturbances erupted in Cardiff city centre, culminating in the arrest of 18-year-old Mackenzie Bailey at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court. Bailey, whose distinctive ginger hair helped police identify him, was recorded throwing a can of alcohol at the O’Neill’s pub signage in a scene where a group of Bristol City supporters were gathered outside local establishments, including Wetherspoon’s. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the fans were shouting at customers inside the pubs and at patrolling police officers, leading to police intervention to disperse the crowd.

Following his initial distraction outside the pubs, Bailey continued to the Cardiff City Stadium, where he was apprehended during halftime due to his recognisable appearance. Prosecutor Mike Curry presented video evidence of Bailey’s actions, which included throwing a can that exploded upon impact with the pub signage.

Bailey, who resides in Glenfall, Yate, admitted to a public order offence. His solicitor, Maxine Twynam, expressed Bailey’s remorse, stating, “Mackenzie is ashamed of the way he behaved that day. He has no excuses.” Twynam indicated that the situation escalated among the Bristol City fans rather than with Cardiff City supporters, alluding to the media coverage of the events. She further noted that Bailey was merely swept up in the crowd and described his actions as a poor decision.

Bailey’s family expressed disappointment regarding his behaviour, and Twynam described him as a “family man,” who supports his sister’s children and is employed full-time in rendering and plastering work. His employer wrote to the court, emphasising Bailey’s consistent work ethic over three years, highlighting his exemplary conduct in a professional environment.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Bailey had a caution for a previous football-related public order offence, which Twynam acknowledged as complicating his current case. After deliberation, Presiding Justice Mark Hughes handed down a £500 fine, a £200 victim services surcharge, and £85 in prosecution costs. Bailey was also subjected to a three-year football banning order, barring him from attending regulated football matches and requiring him to surrender his passport during international matches.

In a separate incident, armed police were engaged in a confrontation outside a family home in Caerphilly involving Jordan Pole and his mother, Kimberley Filer, on 2 May 2023. The encounter began when armed officers were dispatched to investigate a silver Audi believed to be linked to an armed road rage incident on the M4 motorway. Upon stopping outside the Pole residence in Mornington Meadows, the pair aggressively confronted armed officers.

During the altercation, Pole was reported to have grabbed an officer’s rifle, prompting Filer to physically engage with the officers. The escalation necessitated the use of PAVA spray to subdue both defendants. In subsequent legal proceedings at Newport Crown Court, Pole, 24, and Filer, 42, changed their not guilty pleas to guilty regarding assaults on emergency workers. They were each issued 12-month community orders and ordered to contribute towards prosecution costs, with Filer required to complete 120 hours and Pole 160 hours of unpaid work.

Meanwhile, in another case heard at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, a defendant named Jason Nutt, aged 38, made headlines for his unusual behaviour during sentencing for drunk and disorderly conduct on Valentine’s Day. Nutt’s light-hearted remarks, including complaints about “graffiti” in the dock, contrasted sharply with the gravity of his offences. He revealed his ongoing struggle with alcohol addiction, which his solicitor noted had led him to seek assistance through Alcoholics Anonymous. Ultimately, Nutt was fined £120 and ordered to pay additional costs, with the magistrates acknowledging his efforts to address his alcohol issues.

Source: Noah Wire Services