Three football fans who took part in a violent disturbance during a North Wales match have been sent to jail or a young offender's institute. They were among five who were all banned from football matches for up to six years following the clashes at a Flint Town game against Caernarfon Town last year.

The fracas was today branded "hooliganism" by a judge who said it brought "shame" on Welsh football. There was a risk of it dragging the sport back to "regular and depressing" scenes of violence, he said.

Prosecutor Elen Owen told Caernarfon Crown Court the match was being televised live on S4C programme Sgorio at Flint Town Utd's Marsh Lane ground on April 8. It started at 5.15pm but North Wales Police got a call at 5.41pm about fans fighting. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

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Officers arrived and found supporter Martin Roberts, 56, "unconscious, not breathing and bleeding from the head", said the prosecutor. Paramedics treated him and he was airlifted to hospital at Aintree on Merseyside.

Doctors diagnosed a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. No-one has yet been identified for any assault on Mr Roberts, the court heard.

Later Mr Roberts said he remembers being in a pub in Flint but has no recollection of what followed. Ms Owen said children as young as 10 or even younger witnessed the violence.

The Cymru Premier League fixture had to be abandoned. Simon Davies and his son Jack Davies were identified on Sgorio footage for their part in the trouble and were arrested. Others were also arrested.

Ms Owen said Jamie Griffiths, now 19, of Ffordd Maes Barcer, Caernarfon, was involved in the incident and was attacked by other youths. He admitted violent disorder.

Flint Town supporter Simon Davies, 42, of Maes Afon, Flint, is seen being "agitated" and seemingly shouting "F*** off". He ducked under a barrier and went onto the pitch.

He went to pick up a metal camera stand before being stopped and was in a group which assaulted Jamie Griffiths. He admitted violent disorder.

Simon Davies' son Jack Davies, 21, of Maes Afon, Flint, kicked Jamie Griffiths. He admitted violent disorder.

The court heard Cai Ditchburn, 26, Constantine Road, Caernarfon, was not directly involved in the violence. But he seems to be shouting "f****** c***" and "lunges forward towards other males".

He goes towards a barrier and a player pushes him back. The fifth defendant Luke Hughes, 35, of Cae Mur, Caernarfon, threw a black, plastic bin towards the crowd.

He pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.

One of the defence barristers John Wyn Williams, defending father-of-three Simon Davies, said the "ugly" incident had been captured "in Technicolour" in S4C's live Sgorio coverage. He said he suspects his client had been "driven by emotion and adrenalin".

Mr Williams also said his son Jack Davies feels ashamed. Dafydd Roberts, for Jamie Griffiths, said his client had been 17 at the time of this "isolated incident".

His Honour Timothy Petts told the defendants it had been "a shocking display of football hooliganism" and a "frightening and sustained display of thuggery" by these five men and several younger defendants, dealt with at magistrates courts.

He added: "Football ought to be a game where friends and family can go and enjoy being entertained in safety and not worry about whether they are going to be caught in violence.

"You brought shame on yourselves, your respective clubs and Welsh football as a whole." There had been a risk of football returning to the "regular and depressing" days before the 1989 Act. (The Football Spectators Act controlled the admission of spectators at designated football matches in England and Wales by means of a national membership scheme).

The judge commended stewards, players and others for doing their best to stop the violence. He also commended the paramedics especially those treating Mr Roberts

The sentences

Simon Davies

At today's sentencing hearing the judge said Simon Davies went onto the pitch and tried to pick up a metal camera stand which would have been a "formidable weapon". He "should have known better". He jailed him for 20 months. He was also given a six-year Football Banning Order.

Jack Davies

His son Jack Davies was an "active participant." He jumped onto the pitch and was in a group which kicked Jamie Griffiths. There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation but for now he sentenced him to eleven months detention in a young offender's institution. He was also given a six-year Football Banning Order.

Jamie Griffiths

Jamie Griffiths went "far beyond self defence". He was detained for nine months in a young offenders' institution. He was also given a six-year Football Banning Order.

* Cai Ditchburn was give a nine-month jail term suspended for 18 months. He must do 200 hours of unpaid work, 20 days of rehabilitation activity and wear an alcohol abstinence monitoring tag for 90 days. He was given a three-year Football Banning Order.

* Luke Hughes admitted the lesser offence of using threatening behaviour. He received a 12-month community order with conditions. He must wear an alcohol abstinence monitoring tag for 120 days and do 15 days of rehabilitation activity. He was given a three-year Football Banning Order.

All of the adult defendants were issued with Football Banning Orders ranging from three to six years.

They will now be prohibited from attending any football matches in the UK for the duration of the orders.

Failure to comply with the FBO could result in a fine or a six-month prison sentence.

A total of 12 individuals, whose ages range from 15 to 42, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court and Mold Magistrates’ Court this week in connection with the incident.

Seven other males, all of whom are under 18 years old and cannot be named for legal reasons, were issued with referrals to the Flintshire Youth Offender Panel for periods of between four and eight months. Each youth was also ordered to pay costs of £226.

Police statement

Detective Constable Donna Vernon, the Investigating Officer, said: “The behaviour and violence of the men sentenced today was completely unacceptable. Disorder of this kind has no place at a football match, nor anywhere else within our communities.

“The sentences imposed reflect the serious and violent nature of the incident at Flint’s ground earlier this year. We thank the public for their help in identifying those involved, following our appeal for information and our wider investigation.

“The Football Banning Orders issued today will also restrict their access to attend future matches. It demonstrates our determination to pursue prosecutions to get justice for victims, and it shows that violence has no place in football.”