28 Feb 2019 22:20:31
Roma fan Simone Mastrelli has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to the assault of Sean Cox outside Anfield in April 2018.

Mastrelli had entered a guilty plea, at Preston Crown Court on Thursday morning, to unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Cox.

Mastrelli, from Rome, had been extradited last month after being arrested on a European Arrest Warrant in Italy in connection with the attack on father-of-three Mr Cox, from Dunboyne in Co Meath, Ireland.

Sentencing, the Recorder of Preston Judge Mark Brown said: "There is no doubt in my mind that you went to the stadium as a group to sort out the Liverpool supporters and in doing so you have destroyed the life of an innocent man and his family.

"This was on any view a dreadful offence. It has had a profound impact on Mr Cox and his family. "

The 30-year-old also pleaded not guilty to a separate count of violent disorder, also on April 24, which will lie on file after the plea was accepted by the Crown.


I hope this gives The Cox family some solice.

red deano YNWA.

{Ed002's Note - Actually, it strikes me as a pretty light sentence given the impact of his actions.}

1.) 28 Feb 2019
28 Feb 2019 22:36:21
Agreed Ed002.

2.) 01 Mar 2019
28 Feb 2019 23:15:07
3 and a half years is a disgrace. But sure, poor Mr Cox (thankfully) wasn't killed so it can only go down as a smaller offence. Surely sentences should fit the whole crime, not just the bullet point in the legal manual. Well done yet again justice system.

3.) 01 Mar 2019
01 Mar 2019 01:21:44
Why is there thumbs down for this post? Unbelievable!

4.) 01 Mar 2019
01 Mar 2019 01:39:15
3.5 years is nothibg compared to the life changing incedent to him and to his familiy.

I could maybe understanf if Mr Cox also went there to activley fight with Roma fans but the fact that he was just at the wrong time and wrong place makes the attack even more sickening and therefore the light sentence as a consequence.

5.) 01 Mar 2019
01 Mar 2019 06:39:57
Agreed with ed002 and deano. Ridiculous sentence.

6.) 01 Mar 2019
01 Mar 2019 07:21:04
I’m amazed it wasn’t GBH instead of assault which carries a much heftier sentence. Shocking outcome IMO.

7.) 01 Mar 2019
01 Mar 2019 11:02:09
Om sure he will be shown a lovely welcome in jail!