THESE are the moments a lifelong Oxford United fan punched two opposing supporters in a busy city centre street.

Wayne Cox, who had taken cocaine, attacked a group of Port Vale fans as they walked down Cornmarket Street at 6pm on October 2 after the two sides’ League Two match.

In city centre CCTV footage, Cox is seen approaching his first victim – who Cox claimed had wound him up earlier in the day – from behind before punching him in the head.

As the man drops to the ground Cox seems to stumble over him. In the ensuing melee Cox then thumps a second man before arguing with several opposition fans.

The father-of-three was given a community order at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday having earlier admitted two public order offences and possession of a Class A drug.

The two Port Vale fans suffered facial injuries but did not want to press charges.

Ann Sawyer-Brandish, prosecuting, said Cox was part of “the Oxford ‘risk group’, numbering about 25” who attempted to breach a police escort ferrying Vale fans to the Kassam Stadium.

She said: “This defendant came to attention by being abusive and threatening towards the Port Vale escort while it was making its way across the car park.

“Pc (Paul) Phillips was wearing a bodycam and was able to record this defendant’s actions and threats.

“He’s challenged by the officer to keep away from the escort.

“The bodycam captures this defendant making a cut-throat gesture to the Port Vale escort and implying they did something naughty in town.”

Cox, of Westlands Drive, Northway, did not attend the match but was later seen in Oxford by CCTV operators.

Mrs Sawyer-Brandish said: “A group of about 15 of the Oxford risk group are seen hanging around in St Michael’s Street, and appear to be waiting for something.

“This defendant follows three males that were with the Port Vale fans. He approaches one from behind and is seen to punch him in the face.

“The Oxford group, who’ve concealed themselves in St Michael’s Street, come forward and there’s a small stand-off. This defendant punches another Port Vale fan in the face.”

The court heard Cox told police: “I’d seen the bloke earlier and he’d been winding me up. No defence, it was stupid.”

He admitted taking cocaine and had done so before other games as it “gave him a buzz,” Mrs Sawyer-Brandish said.

Catherine Scammell, def-ending, said: “This is something that Mr Cox is deeply ashamed of. He’s a lifelong Oxford supporter who has been going for 31 years with no problems.

“He has not been identified as one of the risk supporters, but was in the presence of other designated risk supporters.”

She added: “He says he was upset. He felt wound up because of the threats throughout the day and accepts he behaved completely inappropriately.”

Miss Scammell said Cox no longer uses cocaine and has started “preaching to all his friends about its harmful effects”.

She added: “He described himself as being a complete idiot and said he wouldn’t want to be in town with his children and (see) someone else behave like that.”

Cox was sentenced on Thursday to 160 hours’ unpaid work, a three-year football banning order and told to pay £85 costs.

tairs@Oxfordmail.co.uk l Nineteen people are due at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday in relation to trouble at Oxford’s home game with Aldershot on October 9.