Ten charged following disorder between fans at Peterborough United v Cambridge United match

Ten people have now been charged following the disorder at the football match between Peterborough United and Cambridge United last year.

Cambridgeshire police have identified and interviewed 43 people as part of the investigation following the game at the Weston Homes Stadium in Peterborough on October 29.

The match was marred by ugly scenes, with disgusting chants made about Simon Dobbin, the Cambridge United fan who suffered brain damage as a result of a violent attack following a game in March 2015, which led to his death in October 2020, aged 48.

There were also chants about sex offences and “extensive criminal damage” at the away end to toilets, offices and the concourse area.

Police said all but one of the 10 have been charged with either a section 4 or section 5 public order offence – namely using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence.

A 17-year-old boy from South Cambridgeshire, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with criminal damage of up to about £20,000 and is due to appear in court on Wednesday (February 22).

Det Sgt Shish Thind, who is leading the investigation, said: “This has been a lengthy and complex investigation which has involved identifying numerous people, countless interviews and we are now at the stage where we have been able to take next steps in terms of charges. However, the investigation is not over yet.

“With the support of both clubs, our investigation is progressing and we will take action against anyone identified as committing criminal offences, and will work with clubs to secure banning orders where appropriate.

“The majority of Cambridge United and Peterborough United supporters behaved responsibly at the match, however, there were a small number of fans who chose to behave in a wholly unacceptable way, and this behaviour has been condemned by both clubs.”

Two people remain unidentified. Anyone with information about the men in the CCTV images is urged to contact police online or use the web chat service and quote Operation Rookery.

Police confirmed that:

• Trevor Johnson, 45, of Parson Drove, Wisbech, admitted a section 4 public order offence and was sentenced last November to a 12-month community order – meaning he must carry out 90 hours of unpaid work and pay £199 in costs - and was handed a three-year football banning order that means he cannot attend games.
• Karl Hart, 46, of New Lakeside, Hampton Vale, Peterborough, was sentenced in December to an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £105 in costs after being charged with a section 4 public order offence.
• Nicholas Fasulo, 48, of Park Road, Peterborough, and David Jackson, 47, of Dovecote Close, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, and Craig Stockhill, 42, of Saltmarsh, Orton Malborne, Peterborough, have been charged with a section 4 public order offence and are due in court on March 17.
• Mark Watson, 35, of Woodward Drive, Gunthorpe, Peterborough, and Michael Johnson, 28, of Hammonds Drive, Fengate, Peterborough, have been charged with a section 4 public order offence and are due in court on March 8
• Liam Hanlon, 43, of Belsize Avenue, Fletton, Peterborough, has been charged with a section 5 public order offence and is due in court on March 10.
• Robert Macdonald, 48, of Range Ride, Surrey, has been charged with a section 5 public order offence and is due in court on March 31.

There have also been a number of arrests:

• A 21-year-old man from Bottisham was arrested and issued with a conditional caution for being in possession of and lighting a flare.
• A 17-year-old boy from Bar Hill arrested on suspicion of discharging a firework on a public highway and assaulting three emergency service workers has been bailed until May 17.
• A 22-year-old man from Chatteris who was arrested on suspicion of a section 5 public order offence remains under investigation.
• No further action is being taken against four men, aged 18, 20, 20 and 37, all from Peterborough, arrested on suspicion of a section 5 public order offence.
• Two men aged 20 and 55, both from Chatteris, and four men aged 20, 29, 29 and 56, all from Peterborough, were interviewed in connection with a section 4 public order offence and received conditional cautions.
• A 17-year-old boy from Buckden was interviewed in connection with a section 5 public order offence and was issued with a community resolution.
• Thirteen men interviewed in connection with section 4 or section 5 public order offences offence remain under investigation.
• No further action is being taken against six men interviewed in connection with section 4 or section 5 public order offence.