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Six England fans jailed by Marseille court over Euro 2016 violence

A total of six England fans have been jailed for their part in the Marseille violence that marred the opening weekend of Euro 2016, with all banned from France for two years.

The men, who all appeared at court in the city during a five-hour session, were imprisoned for between one and three months.

Alexander Booth, 20, was the youngest to be jailed and received a two-month sentence, while Ian Hepworth wil be jailed for three months.

Later on Monday, four more England fans were jailed.

Ashley Kelly, 26, from Birmingham, was imprisoned for three months and given a two-year ban from France for throwing seven bottles outside the stadium.

The court heard the construction worker is a single father who lives with his parents.

Paul Jackson, 21, from Halifax, received one month in jail and a two-year ban after he threw bottles at police and supporters on Saturday.

Lee Phillips, 23, from Taunton, was also jailed for one month and given a two-year ban for throwing bottles at a woman, who also threw some back.

Booth spent his birthday in prison following his arrest for involvement in the rioting.

Booth, who was wearing an England shirt, told the court: "I would like to say sorry to the police and to the people and city of Marseille. This is not like me.

"I'm not a violent person. I love my job and my family. I've never been involved in football hooliganism. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am really, really sorry."

Booth, from Huddersfield, Yorkshire, was jailed for throwing a bottle at police.

He said he had not aimed the bottle at officers and added: "I have never had problems with the police -- I respect the police very much. I am hard-working."

Hepworth, a 41-year-old psychiatric nurse from Sheffield, was sentenced for committing the same offence.

He was accused of throwing a bottle at police before walking forward to pick up a second bottle. He claimed he could not remember what had happened.

Earlier on Monday, Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said 150 Russian hooligans were behind much of the violence that broke out in the city ahead of the England vs. Russia game on Saturday. However, no Russians have been jailed.

Robin told a news conference that "extremely well-trained" people were behind three days of clashes.

"These people were well prepared for ultra-rapid, ultra-violent action," he said.

Robin said only two Russian nationals had so far been arrested, both for invading the pitch at the England game, and would be expelled from France.

Ten people, six of them British, three French and one Austrian, faced immediate court proceedings over the violence. In total, 20 people have been arrested.

Around 35 people have been injured in clashes in the port city.

A 50-year-old England fan is in a critical condition with severe brain injuries after being attacked by Russia supporters armed with iron bars, while clashes also broke out when German hooligans attacked Ukraine fans in Lille.

Robin said "almost all" of the injured were British, but added that England supporters had also been responsible for violence.

On Sunday, the executive committee of European football's governing body warned the FA and the Russian Football Union (RFS) that "it will not hesitate to impose additional sanctions."

In a statement, it said these could include "the potential disqualification of their respective teams" from the tournament in France.

England manager Roy Hodgson and captain Wayne Rooney have recorded video messages to appeal for calm.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn said misbehaviour by England supporters in the centre of Marseille before the game had been "embarrassing" but stressed that the organisation was taking UEFA's warning "extremely seriously."

Home Secretary Theresa May said England fans involved in the "indefensible" violence in Marseille have let their country down.

The tournament organiser also opened disciplinary proceedings against the Russian Football Union for alleged crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and the setting-off of fireworks by fans during the game.

Asked whether David Cameron was concerned that England could be expelled from Euro 2016 over hooliganism, the Prime Minister's official spokeswoman said: "The Government is deeply concerned by the violence in Marseille at the weekend, including the reports of fans being attacked by rival supporters.

"We welcome UEFA's decision to launch an investigation into the violence and we will look at how we can support that while engaging with our European partners."

Speaking after the court hearing, Booth's father insisted his son was innocent.

Chris Booth said: "It's the lowest of the low. I feel angry, furious, let down.

"Along with my brother we came across to go to the fan zones. On the day, we got the train here from our campsite.

"It started to get rowdy in the Old Port. We had been tear-gassed a few times. We moved back to get out the way of things.

"This is when he is supposed to have thrown the plastic glass but my brother said there's no way he threw it.

"All I can think is they said to him if you admit to this you will get out.

"He's been in a solitary cell for 48 hours, still in the same clothes. I have not been able to speak to him or see him.

"I think he is being made a scapegoat of. We are all very respectable people. I have witnessed so much violence and hooliganism during these two days.

"Alex did get angry and gobby after he was pepper-sprayed but we were walking to the stadium and a police officer pointed at him and he was taken off."