A man described by police as the UK's oldest football hooligan has been jailed for five years after attacking a police horse during a riot last year.

Lorry driver Raymond Everest, 56, from Sydenham, south-east London, was seen on a CCTV camera kicking the horse.

Woolwich Crown Court heard that Everest took part in the violence for 45 minutes outside Millwall's New Den ground in south-east London on 2 May 2002.

Everest, who had denied the charge, was convicted by a jury last month of riot.

A man of his age ought to know better Simon Stirling, defending

Tom Wilkins, prosecuting, said Everest ran at police lines and encouraged others to build a barricade of wheelie bins to hinder charging police horses.

The riot broke out after Millwall lost 1-0 to Birmingham City in a Division One semi-final play-off.

The two hours of violence left 157 police officers and 26 police horses injured.

Everest, a former match steward at Millwall, is the first involved in the violence to be convicted of riot.

Several others have pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

'No remorse'

Simon Stirling, defending, told the court Everest had supported Millwall since the age of three but it was his first offence relating to football hooliganism.

"A man of his age ought to know better", he said.

Passing sentence Judge Philip Statman told Everest: "Riot is the gravest of all public order offences.

"You are the oldest of all those arrested. You have shown from start to finish no remorse.

"You have brought shame on your family and on the club you purport to support."

Everest was also banned from all football grounds in England and Wales for the next eight years.