'Banned' football hooligan kicked 16-year-old's teeth out and fractured his skull

A football hooligan who launched a 'brutal flying kick and volley' to the face of a 16-year-old Birmingham City supporter has been imprisoned. Cameron Brockman assaulted the victim at the Masons Arms in Solihull, knocking out his teeth. He had travelled from Kent to watch his team, Maidstone United, play against Solihull Moors in the FA Cup.

Prosecutor Michael Devine said the defendant had a 'history of involvement in disturbances' which led to him being barred from football in October 2024. But less than two weeks later, he ignored the ban to travel to the West Midlands for Maidstone's second-round FA Cup match on November 2.

Brockman, now 20, from Barnhust Road, in Penenden Heath in Kent, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and affray. He received a sentence of two years and 11 months at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, August 7. Brockman was banned from attending football matches for an additional seven years.

Mr Devine informed the court that in the lead-up, a 16-year-old Birmingham City fan had been 'engaged in some sort of banter' with Maidstone supporters, some of whom went looking for him.

In a brutal incident at the Masons Arms, two men assaulted a teenager, forcing him to assume a fetal position on the ground for protection.

Mr Devine recounted the harrowing scene: "He tried to get to his feet at which point the defendant ran towards him and delivered what's described by a witness as a vicious flying kick and volley to the head."

The young victim was left with no recollection of the assault, only coming to in a shop and noticing a pool of blood, having lost several teeth.

He required treatment at Heartlands Hospital for a broken nose, jaw, and a fracture at the base of his skull. The student expressed in a statement that the attack had severely dented his confidence and was affecting his college performance.

He reflected on the ordeal, stating: "I am always thinking about what could have been and how much worse it could have been. I was seriously lucky to only lose three teeth. A kick to the head could have turned out completely different. I could have suffered severe brain injuries or worse, not been around and died."

Previously, Brockman had been embroiled in violence in Southend-on-Sea on 7 April 2023, when he was just 17 years old. The trouble started when Maidstone supporters bumped into Southend Utd fans at the Last Post Wetherspoon pub, leading to a tense situation.

Mr Woolhouse informed the court that although they initially left the pub without further conflict, insults and brawls later erupted on the high street.

He added: "It's right to say at some point during the disturbance the defendant was headbutted by a rival fan. From that point violence escalated further. A full-scale fight broke out between both sets of supporters.

"There were punches and kicks. A general brawl broke out. Members of the public were forced to take evasive actions. Street rangers stopped the fight and dispersed everyone."

Displaying CCTV footage of the incident, the prosecutor outlined how 'all hell broke loose'.

Brockman carries prior convictions for hurling a missile at a football fixture and violating a football banning order. Miranda Zeffman, representing the defendant, revealed he endured a 'difficult and unstable upbringing'.

However, she emphasised he had undertaken counselling sessions to tackle his criminal behaviour and harboured ambitions to become an engineer. Judge Roderick Henderson, delivering his verdict, remarked: "There is no doubt a lot of potential in this defendant.

"I hope once he has served his time he will be able to go back to the straight and narrow and fulfill the promise he has in many ways. There has to be a custodial sentence but I also bear in mind this will be his first custodial sentence.

"The most serious offence was committed a few weeks after being ordered by a court not to go near a football match. We all know a kick to the head can kill. It was an extremely dangerous event."