FIVE Southampton supporters accused of being part of ugly scenes after the fifth round FA Cup tie with arch rivals Portsmouth have all been dramatically cleared.

Jurors found the final three defendants not guilty of violent disorder after charges against two other men were dropped during the trial.

After the verdicts, Judge Gary Burrell QC took the rare step of asking a sixth defendant, Peter Smithson, 36, whether he wanted to change his plea.

The self-employed electrician, pictured right, of Adams Close, Hedge End, had pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the start of the 13-day trial but yesterday admitted the lesser charge of affray.

He received a 51-week suspended prison sentence, with 80 hours’ unpaid work. He was also banned from attending football matches in Engl-and and Wales for three years and must not go within a mile of St Mary’s Stadium four hours before and four hours after a game.

The court heard how Smithson – who was of previous good character – had shaken temporary fencing in Britannia Road, put up to keep fans apart, two or three times with an “aggressive look”. But when shown police footage of his behaviour, he was “horrified” and remorseful. The judge remarked: “What got into your head, I don’t know. There were quite a lot of decent, professionals like you who seemed to have lost it – something which the courts will not tolerate.”

The defendants were charged with violent disorder followed the violence outside the Freeborn garage in Britannia Road. Missiles including coins, bricks and stones were hurled before police reinforcements, including officers on horseback, restored order.

Two defendants, Michael Wilson, 28, of New Road, Netley Abbey, and Timothy Osman, 49, of Cunard Avenue, Shirley, were cleared midway through the case.

The jury of eight men and four women then cleared Ross Phillips, 28, of Swift Road, Southampton; Martyn Bishop, 43, of Wheatlands, Fareham, and Trevor Collins, 46, of Meggeson Avenue, Townhill Park, Southamp-ton. All in turn thanked the jury.

At the end of the hearing, the judge commended the police for the way they had defused the trouble. He said: “It was extremely frightening for those there, particularly the thin blue line holding the line until they got reinforcements. They did that with bravery and professionalism.”