Police charge 17 men involved in violence before Lincoln City and Luton Town game

Police have charged 17 men after violence broke out before a football match between Lincoln City and Luton Town last year.

A large number of men were all wanted by police following a clash between two gangs on October 6.

The violence allegedly started in The Ritz pub before spilling out into High Street and Firth Road. 

Police have said furniture and glasses were thrown and two women were treated in hospital for minor injuries. 

The charges range from public order offences and violent disorder to breaking football banning orders. 

The following suspects have all been charged:

• Shane Overton, 40, of Parker Avenue, Lincoln, with breaching a football banning order. 
• Phillip Adams, 35, of Prior Street, Lincoln, with violent disorder. 
• Andrew Deans, 26, of Laughton Way North, Lincoln, with violent disorder and breach of a football banning order.
• Ashley Evans, 21, of Melville Street, Lincoln, with violent disorder.
• Marcus Greatorex, 22, of Geneva Avenue, Lincoln, with violent disorder.
• A 17-year-old youth from the Birkenhead area who cannot be named for legal reasons, with violent disorder.
• Daniel White, 19, of St John's Road, Bracebridge Heath, with violent disorder.
• Callum Busby, 19, of De Wint Avenue, Lincoln, with violent disorder.
• Lee Swain 26, of Walnut Place, Lincoln, with violent disorder.
• Tom Samways, 19, of Jensen Road, Bracebridge Heath, with violent disorder.
• A 17-year-old youth from the North Hykeham area, who cannot be named for legal reasons, with violent disorder.
• Nathan Ashmore, 32, of St Catherine's Grove, Lincoln, with violent disorder.
• Dennis Edwards, 52, of Allenby Avenue, Dunstable, with a Section 4 public order offence.
• Michael Dolan, 50, of Marsh Lane, Luton, with a Section 4 public order offence.
• Martin Roe, 44, of Marquis Close, Harpenden, with violent disorder.
• Andrew Leach, 49, of Cutler's Green, Luton, with violent disorder.
• Gary Crocker, 53, of Lalleford Road, Luton, with violent disorder.

The charges were all made as part of Operation Hartford, which was launched especially to locate and arrest the suspects involved with the violence. 

DI Suzanne Davies, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "We hope this operation demonstrates our determination to tackle football related disorder".

They will appear at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on March 1.