Dawid Dembler attacked an officer outside Villa Park in what police called 'some of the worst UK football disorder in decades'
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Legia Warsaw Football Thug Convicted After Kicking Officer In Back Near Villa Park
A masked football thug who attacked a police officer in "shameful" violence outside Villa Park has been sentenced.
"Cowardly" Dawid Dembler was masked when he ran up to an officer and kicked his back as he tried to contain a violent crowd of away fans at Aston Villa’s UEFA Europa Conference League match against Legia Warsaw in November 2023.
Dembler, 35 and from Walsall, was convicted for his role on a night of "sustained violence" caused by supporters of the Polish club.
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Watch the attack caught by police bodycam on the video at the top of this story.
West Midlands Police called the chaotic scenes "some of the worst UK football disorder in decades" after five officers were injured.
Dawid Dembler was sentenced on August 28 after he admitted assaulting an emergency worker.
West Midlands Police said on September 2: "Masked Dawid Dembler ran up behind the officer, attacked him and then fled.
"But other officers saw what happened and moved in to arrest Dembler for assault.
"It happened on a night of shameful scenes before Aston Villa’s UEFA Europa Conference League match against Legia Warsaw in November, 2023.
A police officer is helped up by their colleagues after being hit by a flare outside Villa Park before the UEFA Europa Conference League Group E match between Aston Villa and Legia Warsaw
A police officer is helped up by their colleagues after being hit by a flare outside Villa Park before the UEFA Europa Conference League Group E match between Aston Villa and Legia Warsaw
"Our officers – along with colleagues from 11 forces – faced 90 minutes of sustained violence, where flares, missiles, and debris were used as weapons by supporters of the Polish football club.
"During what was described as the ‘worst football violence in decades’, five officers were injured. More than 40 people were arrested, and some 700 hours of body-worn camera footage has been reviewed as part of the investigation.
"On 18 June, Dembler admitted assaulting an emergency worker, on what should have been the first day of his trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
"The 35-year-old, of Anson Road, Bentley, Walsall, was sentenced on 28 August.
"He was given a football banning order for five years, an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work."
Det Insp Tom Lyons, who oversaw the investigation, said: "You can see from the footage that this was a cowardly attack on an officer who had his back turned as he worked hard to contain a violent crowd of away fans at the Witton Lane coach park gate.
"It caused the Pc to stumble forward, but thankfully there was no lasting injury and quick work by officers nearby meant Dembler was swiftly identified and arrested.
"Because of the volatility of the situation on the ground, we didn’t initially know which officer had been attacked.
"It was only when we trawled through hundreds of hours of footage that we were able to identify it was a West Mercia officer who had been supporting the operation on the night.
"The footage showing him jolting forward was matched to other images, and we established that it was Dembler’s kick that had caused it. The officer hadn’t been aware of exactly what had happened.
"Although he initially denied the attack, the evidence from the officers and their body worn cameras meant Dembler had no choice but to plead guilty."
Six other men are due to stand trial next June charged in connection with the violence.