Football yob attacked charity worker in Luton clash

A FOOTBALL hooligan has been jailed for a vicious unprovoked attack on a female charity collector.

Carl Campbell, 33, punched Anna Yenilmez in the face outside Carlisle’s Griffin pub on the afternoon of 9th August last year.

The attack followed Carlisle United’s opening match of the 2014-15 season against Luton Town.

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Miss Yenilmez had been having an “amicable” conversation with a number of Luton supporters, two of whom were also attacked by Campbell.

She was left permanently scarred by an assault which one shocked eyewitness said left him “sick to my stomach”.

At Carlisle Crown Court today (FRI), Campbell was sent to prison for two years and nine months by Judge Paul Batty QC having admitted two assault charges.

Campbell, of Buchanan Road, Carlisle, was said to have a lengthy criminal record which included numerous failures to comply with football banning orders.

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Judge Batty imposed a 10-year banning order which prevents Campbell from going within a mile-and-a-half of Carlisle United home and away matches for a specified time before and after kick-off.

Judge Batty told Campbell: “She was a lone, female charity collector. She was vulnerable and you did her a great wrong.”

The court heard that Miss Yenilmez did not know there was a football match taking place when she began collecting money in aid of Carlisle Dementia Centre. She was wearing fancy dress - an American Indian costume.

She began speaking in the pub to a number of Luton supporters, one of whom offered to take over charity collection duties while she went outside for a cigarette. “The conversation was affable, amicable,” said Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting.

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As Miss Yenilmez left the Griffin, she noted a large police presence but the mood remained “good humoured”.

That was until a group of Carlisle males crossed the road from another pub. One was Campbell, who broke clear and lashed out at two Luton fans.

With a clenched fist, he then hit Miss Yenilmez full in the face. “The force of it was such that it was like something out of a cartoon,” said Mr. Rogerson, referring to the comments of an eye witness.

Several members of the public saw Miss Yenilmez being assaulted although she was unaware initially about what had happened.

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“She says she felt something happen in that she knew she was on the ground on her back in immense pain,” said Mr. Rogerson. “People helped her to her feet and there was a lot of blood on her clothes.”

She suffered cuts and bruises. But the long-lasting impact of the attack on her was laid bare in a victim impact statement she later gave to police.

She suffered from stress and anxiety, flashbacks and struggled to sleep. She was also left with a “permanent cosmetic blemish” to her face.

Mr. Rogerson said: “She now feels that everyone is looking at her. She will carry that for the rest of her life.”

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Although Campbell ran off after the attack, he was detained by police nearby having scaled a large fence.

He later told officers: “I made a mistake. I will pay the price.”

A character reference was produced in support of Campbell, who was represented in court by Rosalind Emley-Smith.

“What is clear is that Carl Campbell really does represent the tale of two men,” she said. “When sober, it is perfectly clear he is a loving father and a diligent, hard-working man. In drink, he is capable of offences such as these.”

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Judge Batty told Campbell he was guilty of a “despicable” crime.

“This offence no doubt will have shocked the collective consciousness of this city,” the judge told him. “You are a drunken thug.

“You purport to be a Carlisle United supporter - you are nothing of the sort. You are a disgrace to the name of that fine football club.”