A man from Lewisham has been jailed after he seriously injured a man with a knife during violent public disorder between football fans.

Billy Cowap, 29, was sentenced to six years and eight months imprisonment for GBH, three years and four months for attempted GBH, and one year for violent disorder, to be served concurrently.

The defendant, of Riddons Road, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Cowap was also issued with a 10 year football banning order during the hearing at Kingston Crown Court on Monday, December 13.

He was sentenced alongside seven other men following public disorder that took place on Rotherhithe Old Road and Hawkstone Road, Southwark in January 2019.

Alex Jarvis, 34, of Donaldson Road, Greenwich was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, 40 hours unpaid work, £140 for court costs and a three year football banning order.

He had pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Charlie Foster, 22, of Castleton Road, Bromley was sentenced to 100 hours unpaid work, £85 for court costs and a three year football banning order.

He had pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Dean West, 34, of Osprey Road, Hampshire was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, 80 hours unpaid work, £140 for court costs and a four year football banning order.

He had pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Gary Kenyon, 33m of no fixed address was sentenced to 120 hours unpaid work, £85 for court costs and a three year football banning order.

He had pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Jack Cracknell, 24, of Melville Road, Sidcup; Harry Banks, 22, of Lamerock Road, Bromley and Brett Taylor, 25, of Openshaw Road, Abbey Wood, were all sentenced to 90 hours unpaid work, £85 for court costs and a three year football banning order.

They had pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

The court heard how on January 26, 2019 between 4pm and 4.45pm, violent disorder took place between Millwall and Everton football fans.

The teams were playing a fourth round FA Cup match at The Den.

A large group of Everton fans got off a train at Surrey Quays and made their way to a nearby pub on Old Rotherhithe Road.

They assaulted people outside the pub and threw bottles and chairs.

In retaliation Millwall supporters at the pub threw glasses and chairs.

Officers and the British Transport Police attended and separated the fans via a cordon.

As Everton fans retreated to a nearby estate, Millwall fans approached them and a smaller fight took place before it was broken up.

As the Everton fans left the estate onto Hawkstone Road they were approached by more Millwall fans.

Large disorder then took place between the two groups, involving over 100 people. Within the violent disorder Cowap caused significant injury to a man’s face with a knife.

He attempted to cause serious GBH to one victim then later slashed the face of another while involved in the disorder.

Officers were able to identify Cowap’s attack via CCTV, body worn video and social media footage.

They were also able to place him at the scene by analysing his phone call data and cell site data.

The knife used was recovered at the scene and officers identified that the colour of the knife matched the weapon Cowap was seen carrying in videos of the incident.

Detective Constable Phil Dickinson from the Met’s Public Order Command said: “This type of disorder is incredibly dangerous and led to a violent attack which left a victim with lasting injuries which have required numerous surgeries.

“The sentences given to these men reflect the severity of the events that took place.

"Violence between football fans will not be tolerated and we will continue our work to keep London safe during sport matches.”

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