Two years for Albion thug

John Lloyd admitted butting Albion's head of football intelligence, Pc Martin Portman, in a revenge attack at a Teesside pub following Albion's Premier League victory at Middlesbrough on September 27 last year. He is now expected to be banned from The Hawthorns for life by West Bromwich Albion.

Lloyd, 47, who had convictions for hooliganism dating back to the 1980s, blamed Pc Portman – a "spotter" with West Midlands Police – for getting him jailed in 2007.

Lloyd, of Brunswick Park Road,Wednesbury, had been among seven Albion hooligans who took part in a pre-arranged fight with rival Wolves fans.

On that occasion, he received an 18-month prison sentence and was banned from attending all football matches for six years.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, said Lloyd had carried out an unprovoked attack on an off-duty police officer.

Mr Newcombe said Pc Portman and colleague Pc Andrew Hollies were off-duty in the Black Bull pub in Yarm town centre having spent the day observing Albion fans attending the Middlesbrough match.

Lloyd approached Pc Hollies at the bar at around 9.45pm and and told him that the 2007 case was a stitch-up and then argued with Pc Portman about his sentence when the officer went to the toilet, before butting him in the face.

Pc Portman, aged 47, suffered a fractured nose, two chipped teeth and also had treatment for neck and back pain.

He was off work for a month and on light duties for another month, but is now back in his role as head of football intelligence, and said it had not deterred him from doing his job.

Pc Portman said today he was disappointed with the length of sentence.

"I was a witness to his violent disorder, for which he received an 18-month prison sentence. As a result of that he attacked me and has only got two years," he said.

"I will continue to target football hooligans from West Bromwich Albion."