A FOOTBALL fan from the region who was jailed for fighting with rival supporters in Rome will spend at least three months in an Italian prison.

Manchester United fan Richard Wimmer, 39, of North Yorkshire, was jailed for fighting with AS Roma supporters.

The brawl came as United fans clashed with those of AS Roma before a Champions League match on December 12.

Wimmer, of South Parade, Northallerton, was one of four fans from England to be arrested.

Kyle Dillon, 23, Nicholas Lukas, 18, and Michael Burke, 35, were arrested with him before the match, which ended 1-1. They were charged with assault and resisting arrest by the Italian police.

Wimmer and Dillon were both jailed for two years and six months, while Burke and Lukas were sentenced to two years and five months.

An appeal hearing was held this week, but the four will remain in prison until a new trial date is set.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "They are being held in jail in Italy and have not been sent back to the UK. There was an appeal on Monday and their lawyer is still going forward with the case. The case could still take two to three months before a date is set for another trial."

The four were part of a group of fans who were being escorted to AS Roma's Stadio Olimpico.

They are thought to have joined a 60-strong gang of Manchester United fans who broke away from the main group.

They then ran into rival AS Roma fans close to the Duca d'Aosta bridge, where fighting broke out.

Greater Manchester Police hooligan spotters identified the four to Italian officers for their part in the fighting.

A police spokesman said they had not been not subject to any football banning orders.

Manchester police Superintendent John Graves said: "The majority of people travelling are genuine football fans who just want to have a good night."

He warned fans at future matches: "When travelling to the stadium, use the official transport provided and be mindful of your personal safety."

Michael Heaton, branch secretary of the Harrogate and District Manchester United Supporters' Club, said: "I have been all over the world following Manchester United for over 50 years and I'm not a hooligan.

"But some of the things you have to put up with when you travel abroad are disgraceful.

"There are places to avoid and I would rather you could just go to a match and be able to watch it safely."

Five other Manchester United fans were stabbed in violence which marred the match