Men issued with football banning orders after an assault on a train in Kent.

Three men who assaulted a man after an argument on a train have been banned from entering any football ground in the UK for up to five years. The sentencing followed an investigation by British Transport Police (BTP) into disorder on a train in Kent at around 5.30 pm on Sunday, 18th May last year.

The men involved had been watching Maidstone United earlier that afternoon, and were on a train travelling towards Halling, when a report was received that a large fight was taking place on board.

Revenue Enforcement Officers who were on the train stopped it at Halling, when an injured man who had been escorted off the train and onto the station platform was followed out and punched by Freddie Dunmall of Maidstone, then punched twice by John Ryan of Maidstone, and kicked by Camron Brockman of Featherstone. British Transport Police officers attended Halling station in response to the incident, and recorded details of those alleged to have been involved. The following month, Dunmall, Ryan and Brockman were interviewed and charged with affray.

At Maidstone Magistrates Court on Monday, 7th September, Brockman was given a five-year football banning order preventing him from entering any football ground in the UK, whilst Ryan and Dunmall were each given three-year football banning orders. All were also given community orders of between 12 and 18 months and ordered to undergo rehabilitation.

Unfortunately, assaults on Britain’s Railways happen far too regularly, such as in April when an assault occurred on a train from Edinburgh Waverley to Cowdenbeath in Scotland, and at Liverpool Street Underground station in London on the 30th August, when a 32-year-old man was attacked and left in critical condition, and unfortunately later died in hospital from his injuries.

“As a result of their frankly stupid behaviour, these three football fans will now be unable to attend any football matches in the UK for up to five years. There is simply no excuse for violence – and these banning orders should serve as a reminder to anyone who believes they can get away with unacceptable behaviour on the railway – there will be consequences.”

PC Oliver Millar, from BTP’s football policing unit