By
Katie Silver
Last updated at 8:18 AM on 22nd December 2011
Welsh football fan Mike Dye died outside Wembley after being floored by a single punch
An England football supporter who killed an innocent Wales fan outside Wembley Stadium was jailed for three years at the Old Bailey yesterday.
Michael Dye, 44, died from head injuries inflicted by a single punch before a Euro 2012 qualifier between England and Wales on September 6.
Ian Mytton, 41, who pleaded guilty last month to the manslaughter of the father of three, wept as he was sentenced.
In a statement read out in court, the victim’s wife Nathalie, who wiped away tears throughout the sentencing, said: ‘The man who caused Mike’s death might as well have killed me that night. Part of me died alongside Mike.’
CCTV footage showed Mytton, of Redditch, Worcestershire, approaching Mr Dye on a concourse outside the stadium in North-West London before punching him once 25 minutes before the match kicked off and then walking away.
Mr Dye, from Ely in Cardiff, was taken to Northwick Park Hospital after suffering a fractured skull but died soon after his arrival.
At the time of his death, initial police reports wrongly suggested that the punch had been thrown as a result of a fight between Swansea City and Cardiff City fans.
Gravel marks the spot outside Gate C at Wembley Stadium, London, where Mr Dye was attacked, and later died
Widow: Nathalie Dye, Michael’s wife, made a statement to the court
Philip Bennetts QC, prosecuting, said one eyewitness described the punch as ‘sickening’.
Judge Anthony Morris said the attack was ‘unprovoked’ and the force of the blow was ‘considerable’.
He said Mr Dye was ‘poleaxed’ from the force of the punch and fell
backwards without trying to stop himself, hitting his head on the ground
and suffering ‘massive brain damage’.
Mytton, an Aston Villa fan, had drunk five pints of lager and was
holding a can of Strongbow as he and five friends approached Mr Dye and
his friend Anthony Riella, who had also been drinking.
Earlier, Mr Bennetts described Mytton and his friends shouting abuse at
Mr Riella and Mr Dye, a prominent Cardiff City supporter who used to
help arrange transport for away games.
Mr Riella said in a witness statement that he and Mr Dye looked at the
shouting group and laughed. Soon after, Mytton and a group of five
others approached the pair. Mr Riella said Mr Dye told the group to
‘leave it out’, but Mytton then punched him, knocking him to the ground.
Mytton handed himself in to police. Simon Stirling, defending, said:
‘His remorse for what he did and the suffering he caused them (the Dye
family) is real, genuine and heartfelt.’
He said Mytton had no previous convictions, was never involved in
football violence before and had originally planned to take his daughter
to the match, before realising it was a school night.
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Jailed for 3 years? By UK standards he can probably safely pre order his season ticket for the 2012-2013 season. No way he’s doing 3 years.
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It was murder three years it should have been life.
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This is dreadful – I am sure this man does show genuine remorse – because he killed someone. Would he have given his attack a second thought if he had just given Mr Dye a bad headache and a few stitches? He isn’t showing remorse for the attack, he is sorry he got caught. I am very sure that my husband would never have it in him to punch someone when completely unprovoked – even after 5 drinks – therefore I don’t see how this man can claim that this is out of character for him. Thank goodness it was a school night and his daughter did not have to see this horrific event.
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this poor mans family having to cope without their loved on sickening,as usual the demon drink was involved.
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Bloody 3 years means out after 18 months – for KILLiNG someone!!! These liberal laws, judges, EU and bleating hearts should be ashamed of themselves and they would only know the true sentiment of the nation if it was to sadly happen to one of their loves ones and see if 18 months would handed down then!
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It took 5 brave, drunk, stupid Englishmen to shout abuse at 2 Welshmen just coming to watch the game in good spirits. And then one throws a punch in such a wreckless act of cawardice. I’ve seen this happen so many times before and it’s not good. For Christ sakes we’ve faught together side by side in every conflict since Adam was a child. English, Welsh, Scots and Irish are brothers in arms for God’s sake. Wake up Britain, we’re brothers in arms.
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This sort of scumbag should be made an example of and have his hands cut off and sent to the front line clearing mines in Afghanistan! This mindless violence happens at every ground in the country and needs to stop
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What a sick society we live in, even sicker when a murderer only gets three years.
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As an English man who is proud to be so it makes me sick to think that not only did one of my fellow countrymen do such on obscene thing to another human being, but that our laughingly called justice system has failed the family of Mr Dye by imposing a sentence which means the criminal responsible will be out of jail in 18 months or less.
I appreciate it was a first offence but I would have thought that 5 years should be the minimum for manslaughter with, what should be in place, a doubling of the sentence because alcohol was involved.
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Should have been given ten years minimum to deter others from similar actions. He will be out in 18 months, an absolute disgrace.
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