Aston Villa hooligan may be allowed to keep postman job

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A FOOTBALL hooligan postman jailed for eight months over a street brawl may be allowed keep his job, it was claimed last night.

Martin Smith, 41, was part of a mass battle after a derby game between Aston Villa and Birmingham City in October.

During the violence police were pelted with bricks and bottles while rival supporters fought each other.

Villa fan Smith, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, was said to have gloated after he kicked a man lying on the floor three times.

Three weeks ago he was sent to prison for the sickening attack, along with eight other soccer yobs, after being convicted of violent disorder.

But now it has emerged the violent postman has not yet been sacked over the incident.

And one disgusted co-worker said: “I can’t believe they might keep his job open for him.

“It’s appalling, as when you apply for a job you have to say you’ve got no criminal convictions.

“So now he has got a record, yet he might keep his round.

“He had a coveted round because of the overtime you can get.

“He shouldn’t be allowed to come back.”

Before his prison stretch Smith had delivered mail in his home town of Bromsgrove.

Another source added: “The bosses are still deciding what to do about it.

“It is being treated as gross misconduct and could go either way.’’

A shocked homeowner on Smith’s old route said that residents did not want him back on his street.

Dad-of-three Terence Hancox, 43, lives in south Bromsgrove, and said: “How can a football hooligan be allowed to work for Royal Mail?

“I don’t want him delivering my mail, but he is supposed to be coming out quite soon.

“I e-mailed Royal Mail about it but I’ve heard absolutely nothing back.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We do not comment on individual personnel matters.”

The brawl which saw Smith jailed happened on October 31 last year after a dour Midlands derby at Villa Park.

Rival fans on their way home taunted each other as cops battled to keep them apart.

Fights broke out between gangs of supporters, while police were targeted with broken bricks, bottle and coins.

When sentencing the seven Villa and two Blues fans at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Recorder Richard Bond, said: “You may think that you were fighting for the honour of your club, but nothing could be further from the truth.

“When people attend football matches they must realise that if they are involved in unlawful violence an immediate custodial sentence will follow.”

All nine men involved were given six year football banning orders.

West Midlands Police Sergeant Gareth Mason, from the Force Football Unit, said: “Disorder of this kind places decent and genuine football fans and other members of the community in extremely dangerous and uninvited situations. These nine men have learned how seriously their violent conduct has been viewed by the courts.’’

[R@YAL F@IL]

Should be ashamed of himself, 41 years of age at that and in the future he could be delivering to relatives or friends of the man he kicked - I think not

[scoobydo79]

Who would want to work with him????

[Lounge Lizard]

Who would want to work with him????

Who would want to go to the same football match as him ?

[POSTMAN]

Going by a DO nearish me a few years ago,a guy got sacked for doing the same thing,he came back to the DO through an agency and was told he couldn't work for us even through them.

[ziko]

My manager is Blues fan and i am a Villa fan.......................