A POLICE dog handler told a court how rival football fans had acted like “caged animals” towards each other.

PC Derek Darling said he feared there would have been a riot outside St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton if Saints supporters had broken through a barrier separating them from their Pompey counterparts.

The officer had been on duty at the fifth round FA Cup tie in February, which ended in a 4-1 win for Portsmouth with his German Shepherd Flint.

He told jurors at Southampton Crown Court: “Before I joined the dog support unit, I was in the public order unit and was involved in the Portsmouth and Southampton riot many years ago. I felt this was more intimidating.”

The officer told the city crown court how he had escorted away fans to the ground before the match.

As it ended, he was with three other dog handlers in Britannia Road where metal fencing had been erected to prevent home supporters from going further down the road.

But he saw a contingent go behind buildings and emerge behind the barrier at the Freeborn Garage.

“There was extreme goading between both sets of supporters, shouting, missiles – coins, pieces of wood, even a white plastic chair – were thrown at the Portsmouth supporters,” PC Darling told the court.

‘Caged animals’ “Both were like caged animals. As I approached each set, they appeared to be looking through me at the opposing fans.”

He became so concerned for his welfare after being struck on his helmet by a large, solid object that he was issued with an upgraded helmet.

PC Darling said the fencing was coming apart and while other officers dealt with a breach, he and one other dog handler stood between the fans who were intent on getting at each other.

He told one man to put down a stone and move back. “He was in a group waving their hands and shouting ‘Come on you scummers’. As he picked up another stone and was about to throw it, Flint bit him on the leg.”

The officer said the trouble ended when police on horseback went through a breach in the fencing and he followed. “Flint was bleeding when he sat down. He had scraped his nails down, but I didn’t see him hit by anything.”

PC Darling was giving evidence in the case of five men accused of violent disorder.

Michael Wilson, 28, of New Road, Netley Abbey; Timothy Osman, 49, of Cunard Avenue, Shirley, Southampton; Trevor Collins, 46, of Meggeson Avenue, Townhill Park, Southampton; Ross Phillips, 28, of Swift Road, Southampton, and Martyn Bishop, 43, of Wheatlands, Fareham, deny the allegation.

Proceeding