By Emmanuel Dominic 
Fatal Pub Fight Leads to Five-Year Prison Sentence for Football Fan
A football hooligan has been jailed for 5 years after fatally attacking a rival fan outside a pub in Sheffield. Liam Jones, 20, a self-proclaimed leader of a Sheffield United hooligan group, punched 56-year-old Richard Wheeler, a Sheffield Wednesday supporter, during an altercation near The Bessemer pub on July 15, 2023. Mr. Wheeler fell and sustained a traumatic brain injury, dying in hospital 10 days later.
Jones had earlier assaulted three other men from Mr. Wheeler’s group at another pub, Maggie May’s, including smashing a glass into one man’s face. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and five other charges, including grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. The court heard that the attack was motivated by football rivalry.
In a victim impact statement, Mr. Wheeler’s wife described him as her “rock” and expressed profound grief over his loss. The judge noted that Jones was “intent on violence” and emphasized the severity of his actions.
Emeka Blast