Notorious West Brom fan jailed for revenge attack on policeman

Mar 5 2009 By Press Association Staff

A notorious West Bromwich Albion football hooligan who headbutted a police officer in a revenge attack has been jailed for two years.

John Lloyd assaulted PC Martin Portman in a pub following his team's Premiership clash with Middlesbrough on September 27 last year.

Lloyd, 47, who has previous convictions for hooliganism dating back to the 80s, blamed PC Portman - a "spotter" with West Midlands Police - for getting him jailed in 2007.

Lloyd had been among seven West Bromwich Albion hooligans who took part in a pre-arranged fight with rival Wolves fans. On that occasion he received an 18-month prison sentence and was banned from attending all football matches for six years.

On Thursday, prosecutor Paul Newcombe told Teesside Crown Court: "The Crown's case is that this was an unprovoked attack on an off-duty police officer." Mr Newcombe said PC Portman, and a colleague PC Andrew Hollies, were off-duty in the Black Bull pub in Yarm town centre having spent the day observing West Bromwich Albion fans attending the Middlesbrough match.

As PC Hollies bought a round of drinks at around 9.45pm Lloyd approached, the prosecutor said. "At the bar the defendant spoke to PC Hollies, called the officer bent and told him that the case was a stitch up and the 18-month prison sentence had ruined his life," he said.

A short time later, PC Portman went to the toilet and Lloyd approached the officer in a nearby corridor.