The charges relate to disturbances in the town centre – including incidents after the final between England and Italy on 11 July 2021 – and are in connection to alleged assaults on police and damage to cars and other property.
The following men will appear before Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on 14 December 2022 charged with violent disorder:
- Charlie Sibbett, 27, of Vicarage Lane, Hoo, Rochester
- Jordan Woodham, 28, of no fixed address
- James Kirwan, 20, of Cuxton Road, Strood
- Reece Neighbour, 20, of Cavendish Avenue, Gillingham
- Nathan Willer, 19, of Featherby Road, Gillingham
- Kieran Drew, 23, of Norfolk Road, Maidstone
- William Yarnton, 19, of Birchwood Road, Maidstone
- Logan Gibson, 21, of Captains Close, Sutton Valence, Maidstone
- Joseph Mborah, 27, of Mote Road, Maidstone, who is also charged with criminal damage
- Lewis Ellerby, 26, of Ash Road, Rochester, who is also charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker
- Benjamin Smith, 27, of Pickering Street, Maidstone, who is also charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker
- Mark Birch, 27, of Longfield Place, Maidstone. He is further charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and carrying out an act of outraging public decency
Four boys aged 17 and two boys aged 16 were also charged, in connection with violent disorder and criminal damage offences.
Superintendent Richard Woolley, divisional commander for west Kent, said: ‘This extensive investigation has led to a total of 24 charges, linked to simply unacceptable disorder and violence in Maidstone town centre – some of which led to our officers being injured.
‘We will always seek to prosecute those we believe are involved in football related criminality, whether that is within a stadium or on our streets and I’d like to reassure residents that with the 2022 World Cup taking place over the next few weeks, we will be implementing measures to ensure this tournament is remembered for all the right reasons. This will include an increased visible presence of patrols in our town centres and proactive work with pubs and other licensed premises, to help us deter and also quickly respond to any issues or concerns.’
