A football hooligan who threw a firework at police officers and a police dog before a Swindon Town match has been jailed for four months.

Lewis Hill, of Collett Place in Latton near Swindon, pleaded guilty to four counts of assaulting an emergency worker and one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

The 22-year-old appeared in court after an incident ahead of Town's home game against Bristol Rovers on January 22, 2022.

Hill threw a firework towards several police officers that then exploded at their feet.

The firework injured Insp Reed, T/Insp Fay, PC Miller, and SPT England and burned the nose of Police Dog Ross.

PD Ross has since returned to work.

Swindon Town and Bristol Rovers fans had to be kept apart by police before and after the 1-1 draw at the County Ground, with pubs and roads closed and horseback riders called in from Devon and Cornwall and Thames Valley to funnel the flow of football fans to and from the County Ground.

Swindon Advertiser: Lewis HillLewis Hill (Image: Wiltshire Police)

Police released a CCTV appeal for witnesses after the game, which also saw a pitch invasion.

Officers investigating the firework assault identified and arrested Hill after viewing CCTV footage and speaking to witnesses. 

He was charged in December, then sentenced last Thursday in a hearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court.

He now faces a four-month jail sentence and has received a football banning order that lasts three years.

Swindon Advertiser: Police Dog RossPolice Dog Ross (Image: Wiltshire Police)

Chief Constable Catherine Roper said: “To throw a firework towards any group of people is an incredibly reckless and dangerous act.

“It is extremely fortunate that none of the officers were seriously hurt by Lewis Hill’s act, and that PD Ross recovered quickly and was able to return to his normal duties.

“Assaults against police officers and police animals will never be tolerated.

"If you assault an officer or any other emergency services worker then be prepared to be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.

“I’m pleased that Mr Hill now faces a custodial sentence and hopefully he will think more carefully about his actions in future.”

Dog unit manager Ian Partington said: “It is pleasing to see that Mr Hill has been jailed for his actions and that offences against officers and police dogs are taken seriously.

“Thankfully PD Ross has been able to continue his career and is performing well as a police dog.”

Swindon Advertiser: Police kept Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town fans apart before and after a football match on January 22, 2022.Police kept Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town fans apart before and after a football match on January 22, 2022. (Image: Dave Cox)