Colchester United fan is banned from football for three years after violence in Cambridge

A Colchester United fan has been handed a three-year football banning order after being involved in violence in Cambridge.

Jon Harknett, 21, was arrested on the day of the Cambridge United versus Colchester game on March 30.

He ran towards a fight which was developing between opposing fans in Newmarket Road, Cambridge, shortly after 2pm as they all walked towards the Abbey Stadium.

Despite attempts by a police officer as he did so, he struggled free and threw a punch towards him before being arrested on suspicion of affray.

Harknett, of Spruce Avenue, Colchester, was then charged with using threatening words or behaviour and initially denied the offence.

However, he was found guilty after standing trial at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court yesterday (November 13). He was handed the football banning order and also fined a total of £1,500.

The order imposed prevents him from attending any football match in the UK, specifically including home and away Colchester United games.

He must also surrender his passport when the England national team travel abroad, as well as during Euro 2020, which will be held all over Europe.

Mark Wood, the force’s dedicated football officer, said: “This type of anti-social behaviour tarnishes the reputation of the 99 per cent of supporters who just want to turn up and watch the match.

“There is no place for this behaviour anywhere and particularly not at football matches, which are family environments.”