Sheffield Wednesday fan jailed after throwing punches at Yorkshire derby

John Sheridan Parker-Wood, 28, of Woolley Wood Road, Sheffield, lunged at a Hull City supporter while throwing punches as fans made their way from Hillsborough stadium after the first game of the 2018-2019 season.

The defendant was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail today, Thursday, January 2, at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court after the fracas was captured on CCTV and after Parker-Wood had been found guilty at a previous trial of affray following the home match on August 11, 2018.

District Judge Paul Healey told Parker-Wood: “There was an altercation and we saw you throw several punches before you were dragged away.

“It was a volatile situation and there were a small number of officers working to keep order and after you were arrested a number of other supporters became involved and there was a risk of escalation.”

Parker-Wood, who has a previous conviction for a football disorder matter, was also given an eight-year football banning order and ordered to pay £200 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Matt Hague, defending, said there had been other incidents between fans captured on the match-day footage and he argued Parker-Wood had been provoked which District Judge Healey accepted.

Sheffield Wednesday FC has already banned Parker-Wood from Hillsborough for five years, according to Mr Hague.

He added: “It is fair to say this football match was a disaster all round. I am not here to criticise how football games are policed. Both fans were released at the same time during a Yorkshire derby and there were pockets of trouble throughout the day.”

A further Sheffield Wednesday fan and friend of Parker-Wood’s – Thomas Harrison - was previously fined for affray after he threw a punch during the same incident which failed to connect.

District Judge Healey considered imposing a football banning order on Harrison, 23, of Northwood Drive, Sheffield, during the latest proceedings.

However, he opted not to do so after Harrison had promptly pleaded guilty, has been banned by Sheffield Wednesday from Hillsborough for five years and because time has elapsed since the original incident.