THREE football fans who caused city centre mayhem on their return from a friendly match in Scotland were spared jail yesterday.

Daniel Petrie, 24, Christopher Robinson, 22, and Kevin Weir, 26, were among 200 Sunderland supporters who were making their way through Newcastle's Central Station after getting off a train from Scotland on July 26 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court was told how Sunderland had played a pre-season friendly against Hibernian and they arrived back in Tyneside just before 9pm that Saturday.

But James Adkin, prosecuting, told the court how the football chants, singing and cheering quickly turned to violence when some of the crowd spilled into the street and clashed with Newcastle United fans who were in a nearby bar.

"It is clear the various disturbances caused some upset to members of the public. Some asked police where they could take refuge.

"One police officer was punched in the face during the course of the incident, although that cannot be attributed to these defendants."

Robinson, of St Peter's View, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to affray and damaging property. He was sentenced to 80 hours community punishment and a community rehabilitation order for 12 months.

Petrie, of Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland and Weir, of Melrose Crescent, Seaham, pleaded guilty to affray.

Petrie was sentenced to 120 hours community punishment and Weir to 200 hours community punishment.

All were ordered to pay £500 costs.

Defence barristers said the men all had good work records and have stayed out of trouble since the incident.

All three defendants, who said they were ashamed of their behaviour, were banned from attending any Football Association regulated match and any England international for three years.