Adam Johnson chants caused ‘explosion’ of violence on train between Newcastle and Middlesbrough

"EXPLOSIVE" violence broke out when rowdy Newcastle fans began taunting rival Middlesbrough fans about convicted paedophile footballer Adam Johnson.

Fists flew on the last train between the cities in a scene of “absolute confusion” involving up to 12 people.

Five tanked-up revellers have now ended up in the dock at Teesside Crown Court for their parts in the melee.

Andrew Jacques, 29, Christopher O’Brien, 34, Craig Rogan, 29, Anthony Sanderson, 28, and Elizabeth Cranney, 37 – now face sentencing after they all admitted affray.

Passengers had been chanting about the ex-Sunderland winger weeks before he was caged for six years for child sex offences.

Transport cops got on the train at 9.30pm on February 13 over concerns about the  “intimidating atmosphere”, and when they left the shouting continued and rowdiness descended into violence.

One of the chanters, Jacques, was seen throwing punches.

A man was attacked in his seat by a group including Rogan and suffered two black eyes, while Cranney fought with another woman on the floor, pulling her hair.

She said she got into a “tussle”, telling police: “The train exploded and there was fighting everywhere.”

Sanderson told officers: “It takes two to tango. That’s how it works. They hit me in the mouth. I hit them back.”

He confessed he had taken cocaine and “helped his mates out by throwing punches”.

A lone conductor, who called 999 prompting police to board at Hartlepool and break up the fracas, said she felt shaken and upset, could not sleep and had headaches.

Recorder of Middlesbrough Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC told the defendants: "“You behaved in an appalling manner, chanting and verbally abusive to the disturbance of all others on the train.

“For no good reason violence started. If you didn’t start it you all joined in.

“You can’t believe what you’ve done but you did it. You did it because you were steaming drunk.”

The five fans convicted were all said to be otherwise hard-working, respectable people and they all expressed shame, remorse and embarrassment.

Each was given a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay £18 compensation with £160 costs.

Detective Inspector Mick Jackson from British Transport Police said it must have been “absolutely terrifying” for other passengers on the busy train to witness violence and said he hoped the sentences were a deterrent to others.

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