Football hooligan, 21, who headbutted rival fan in shocking train station attack spared jail [Video]
Cocaine-fuelled football thug, 21, who head-butted rival fan and knocked him unconscious at train station in ‘unprovoked piece of mob violence’ is spared jail
Mason Preston, 21, spared jail after headbutting rival football fan Sacha BrownClip shows Brown being berated by Portsmouth FC fans at Basingstoke station Thug grabbed surrounded Southampton fan before knocking him unconscious Preston was today handed a 14 month prison sentence, suspended for two years
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A violent football hooligan who took drugs before he headbutted a rival fan, knocking him unconscious, was today spared jail despite his ‘disgraceful and unprovoked piece of mob violence’.
Mason Preston, 21, of Havant, Hampshire, a Portsmouth FC fan, was filmed attacking rival supporter Sacha Brown, who was wearing the jersey of Southampton FC, at Basingstoke Railway Station in February.
Preston pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and was handed a suspended prison term of 14 months.
He will also be banned from attending football matches for five years, handed a six-month electronic curfew and was ordered to pay Mr Brown £3,000 in compensation.
Sentencing him, Recorder Simon Levene told the court: ‘This was a disgraceful and completely unprovoked act of mob violence.’
Edward Hollingsworth, prosecuting, told Portsmouth Crown Court that Mr Brown had been travelling home from watching his team play on February 5 when he was surrounded by the group of fans as he changed platform.
Moments before the assault, the lone Saints fan had beer thrown at him as a large group of Pompey supporters converged and sang abusive chants calling Mr Brown ‘a scummer’ – a nickname used to deridingly describe people from Southampton.
Preston, who had taken cocaine and was drinking before the shocking assault, was seen removing his ‘distinctive’ green jacket and attempting to blend into the crowd, reports the Daily Echo.
Mason Preston, 21, of Havant, Hampshire, a Portsmouth FC fan, was filmed attacking rival supporter Sacha Brown, who was wearing the jersey of Southampton FC, at Basingstoke Railway Station in February
Preston (pictured above leaving court) pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and was handed a suspended prison term of 14 months
Southampton FC supporter Sacha Brown, pictured in the red and white top (right), is seen as he is grabbed and headbutted by rival Pompey fan Mason Preston, 21 in an unprovoked attack
The attack took place just hours after Southampton’s FA Cup home win against Coventry and Portsmouth’s League One defeat away at Oxford.
The Pompey fans can be seen in clips shared online directing a vile chant at him. The song boasts of hitting their rivals ‘with a brick’ because ‘he makes me feel sick’.
Mobile phone footage from the night showed beer being launched at Mr Brown, before Preston, wearing a green jacket, approaches the Saints fan and headbutts him.
The victim was recorded collapsing to the ground, apparently unconscious, and was seen receiving first-aid treatment from passersby.
Mr Brown was left with a black eye following the assault and had to take time off work owing to the concussion and ‘bloodied’ wound he sustained.
Portsmouth Football Club condemned the attack and is understood to be investigating. MailOnline has contacted the club to provide an update.
Mr Brown told the court he felt ‘very threatened’ as a group of about 20 of Portsmouth fans closed in on him and ‘displayed aggression’.
‘The defendant was one of those football fans in the front, he reached out, grabbed the complainant, head-butting him hard, causing him to fall back and hit his head and fall unconscious’, Mr Hollingsworth added.
‘The defendant was one of those football fans in the front, he reached out, grabbed the complainant, head-butting him hard, causing him to fall back and hit his head and fall unconscious.
‘It was completely unprovoked, the complainant was trying to avoid confrontation and hostility when faced with that mob.’
Portsmouth Football Club condemned the attack and judge Recorder Simone Levene described Preston’s acts as a ‘disgraceful and unprovoked piece of mob violence’
Mr Brown was left lying on the floor following the assault which Portsmouth Football Club has since condemned
Mr Hollingsworth said the defendant had previous convictions dating back to 2018 for common assault and for possession of cannabis and cocaine.
The court was shown mobile footage of the group of fans chanting and the attack on Mr Brown, which showed him left lying unconscious on the platform.
A probation officer previously said his actions were in part explained by ‘a mixture of the emotion associated with football, the tribalism, alcohol and cocaine use which contributed to his behaviour’.
Howard Barrington-Clark, defending, said Preston had shown ‘genuine remorse’ and added: ‘He is truly shocked and ashamed.’
At sentencing, judge Recorder Simone Levene told Preston: ‘This was a disgraceful and completely unprovoked piece of mob violence where you did the damage.
‘In the next two years, if you commit any offence you will be brought back and you will get your 14 months’ imprisonment on top of whatever you get for any further offence.’
