EIGHT men have admitted their role in horrific violence outside Legia Warsaw’s match with Aston Villa in 2023, during which a Kidderminster Police officer was hit with a flare.
Three hundred officers faced sustained violence, where flares, missiles, and debris were used as weapons by supporters of the Polish football club.
On November 30, 2023, six officers were injured during what was described as the “worst UK football violence in decades”, including Kidderminster PC Andy Forbes, who was engulfed in flames when he was hit by a flare.
The mob armed themselves with poles, branches and drainpipes, and threats and abuse were shouted.
PC Forbes was taken to hospital with burns, while another officer was knocked out when he was hit with missiles and another suffered an injury to his mouth.
PC Forbes said: “It’s been described as the most serious violence seen at a football match in decades.
“I’d certainly never experienced anything like it.”
Two police dogs suffered injuries to their paws, including from broken glass, while a police horse was left with cuts when a bottle was thrown at it.
Last week at Birmingham Crown Court, eight men were due to stand trial for their involvement in the night’s events.
But seven have now pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Jaroslaw Gredka, 50, of Leicester, had his face covered as he pushed a gate into police officers and dogs. He also carried a pole towards the police line and gestured to officers.
Gregorsz Grabon, 52, of Bridgwater, Somerset, pushed a car park gate at officers as the violence continued.
Adrian Mitura, 35, of Warsaw, Poland, kicked the gate towards officers, while Karol Talkowski, 35, threw an item at police.
Guilty- Karol Talkowski, Marchin Staniec, Gregorsz Grabon, Jaroslaw Gredka, Adrian Mitura, Mariusz Palka, Doran Urbaniak and Bartlomiej Szmytke
Marchin Staniec, 32, of Poland, had his face covered as he threw items at police and brandished a branch over his head. He threw an item at police and pushed a bin at them.
Bartlomiej Szmytke, 23, of Poland, pushed a bin towards officers in Witton Lane.
Doran Urbaniak, 42, of Leicester, was at the front of the crowd on Station Road, threatening officers with his fists raised before throwing an item at the police. He was instrumental in maintaining the crowd’s hostility to police.
An eighth man, Mariusz Palka, 42, of Bristol, admitted affray after gesturing at officers as he refused to move away during the violence.
Sentencing will take place in December.
Three other men have previously been convicted for offences including assaulting a police officer, possession of a knife, and possession of cocaine.
