Sheffield United hooligan Liam Jones jailed for fatal pub attack

Liam Jones claimed he was the leader of a Sheffield United hooligan group

A football hooligan who killed a rival fan in an attack outside a Sheffield city centre pub has been jailed.

Richard Wheeler, 56, died of his injuries 10 days after the assault near The Bessemer pub, in Leopold Street, on 15 July.

After earlier pleading guilty to manslaughter and five other charges at Sheffield Crown Court, Liam Jones, 20, was jailed for 10 years on Friday.

In a statement to the court, Mr Wheeler's wife called him her "rock".

Prosecutor James Baird said the attack by Jones, a Sheffield United fan, was "motivated by the deceased's allegiance to Sheffield Wednesday Football Club".

In November, Jones, of Bowshaw Avenue, Sheffield, had also pleaded guilty to two charges of causing grievous bodily harm without intent, one count of assault, one charge of affray and one of possession of an offensive weapon.

Caught on CCTV

The hearing on Friday was told that CCTV had earlier captured Jones - who was wearing a Burberry cap and a Sheffield United t-shirt - attacking three other men who had been part of Mr Wheeler's group at another pub, Maggie May's in Trippet Lane.

During that incident, Jones had punched a man, leaving him with a cut to his head which required gluing. Jones also smashed a glass into the face of another man, Mr Baird said.

Fearing arrest, Jones then went home and changed his clothes before returning to his friends, the prosecutor said.

Later, the two groups found themselves reunited at The Bessemer pub.

Mr Wheeler was attacked by Jones shortly after leaving the pub via a fire door at about 23:00 BST, Mr Baird said.

That attack was "partially" caught on CCTV, he added.

Sheffield Wednesday supporter Richard Wheeler, 56, died in hospital from his injuries on 25 July

Jones had told a probation officer he was the leader of a Sheffield United hooligan group, the court heard.

In October 2022, he had been made the subject of a three-year football banning order and a community order for incidents including punching a rival supporter in the head, spitting and throwing a "missile".

Nicholas Rhodes KC, mitigating, conceded his client was "no stranger" to football-related violence.

He said Jones did not seek to excuse his behaviour, but had offered "an explanation" for events that night.

Mr Rhodes said Jones maintained that someone had "challenged" him outside The Bessemer pub.

Jones then punched Mr Wheeler once in the face, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the pavement, Mr Rhodes said.

Jones was "full of remorse", he added.

'Intent on violence'

The victim's wife, Tracy Wheeler read, through tears, a statement in court in which she described her loss.

"I do not see the point in getting up in the morning," she said.

Mr Wheeler had been her "rock", Mrs Wheeler added.

Passing sentence, Judge Sarah Wright, who praised Mrs Wheeler's "considerable courage", told Jones: "There is no doubt you were intent on violence."