A hooligan who assaulted two football fans in unprovoked attacks at two separate football matches last season, has been sentenced to a total of two-years and 11 months in prison and handed a 10-year football banning order.
Lee Waud, aged 38 of Staveley Road, Hull was charged with two counts of affray in connection with incidents which occurred in April and May and entered a guilty plea at Hull Crown Court on Friday 30 June. He was sentenced to 21 months for the two offences, as well as an additional consecutive 14 months for breaching a suspended sentence for a previous offence.
On Saturday 29 April 2023, as home and away fans left the MKM stadium in Hull, following the Hull City match against Swansea, Waud was captured on CCTV footage becoming verbally abusive towards a Swansea fan on Walton Street car park in Hull.
The man began to walk away and Waud proceeded to approach him from behind and punch him in the head causing him to fall to floor.
As the man attempted to get back up on his feet, Waud, along with three others then proceeded to assault the man again, repeatedly punching him before fleeing the area.
Following on from the incident, whilst officers were conducting lines of enquiry alongside the football clubs, Waud went on to attend an away game on Monday 8 May, Luton against Hull City.
Whilst travelling back from the game, coaches stopped at a Northampton service station. In a drunken state, at the services, Waud came across some football supporters from Stoke who had also stopped to use the services following a game against Watford and punched a fan twice.
Dedicated Football Officer for Hull City Sam Wilson said: “I hope this court result shows people looking to attend matches and cause disruption that it absolutely won’t be tolerated.
“We work closely with Hull City and the stadium management company to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance at football matches.
“Football should be an opportunity for people to come together over one common love of the sport, and anyone who looks to disrupt or ruin that will be dealt with robustly and have to face the consequences.”