Football fan jailed for attacking Elland Road steward during violent clash between rival Leeds United and Birmingham City supporters

Ben Smith climbed over seats to drag the steward away from helping her colleagues before fellow fans kicked her.

Leeds Crown Court has heard how the clash was the 'worst violence in a decade' at the stadium after one fan ran onto the pitch after Leeds United's 1-0 victory in the EFL Championship match on October 19 last year.

Around 30 away fans tried to stop him from being arrested by punching, kicking and spitting at stewards and police officers.

Smith, of The Severn, Daventry, Northamptonshire, was jailed for seven months after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

The 33-year-old is one of 26 men and two youths charged with violent disorder following a series of public appeals for information.

Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, said police feared they would be overwhelmed and stewards were terrified.

One male steward suffered a head and back injury after being knocked to the ground and punched and kicked. A female steward had her head stamped on.

Miss Pearson said one steward told police: "It felt like a war zone. I was concerned for my own safety, my colleagues and also the police officers."

Ian Crawford, who at the time was Leeds United operations director, said in a statement: "They were demonstrating a real hatred towards the stewards and police who were present, and I would say this is the worst violence I have seen in over ten years."

Mr Crawford suffered an injury to his eye and had to have an operation on his eyelid.

Leeds United's 100-year anniversary celebrations were planned at the end of the match and a significant number of Birmingham City fans remained in the stadium after the final whistle.

People were also injured when coins were thrown between both sets of supporters.

Some Birmingham City fans later got on to Elland Road and bottles and traffic cones were thrown during confrontations with Leeds United fans.

The court was shown CCTV footage of Smith climbing over seats, grabbing the steward by the arm and pulling her out of the aisle to the area where he had been sitting.

She banged her head on a seat during the struggle.

Other fans repeatedly kicked her while she was stuck in the area.

Kevin Waddingham, mitigating, said Smith had acted out of 'misplaced loyalty' to another Birmingham City fan who he did not know.

He said Smith handed himself in to police after seeing an media appeal to trace suspects involved in the incident.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC told Smith: "One steward thought if fans saw a woman getting involved they might stop.

"She tried to intervene by putting her body over the top of another steward.

"Far from stopping, it flared up.

"You grabbed hold of her arm and dragged her in the seating away from her efforts to stop the situation.

"Others kicked her. You allowed it to happen."