Blunkett keen to 'nail' riot fan

Mann appeared in court on Monday

Home Secretary David Blunkett says he has not given up on the case of a football fan freed despite a two-year jail term for rioting in Portugal.

He admitted he was frustrated that Kent firefighter Garry Mann would not serve his sentence in the UK.

Mann was expelled from Portugal before the necessary paperwork was completed.

"I'm working very hard on this because I haven't given up on the idea that we're going to nail this individual," the home secretary said.

Why are responsible, law-abiding citizens who profess not to want to get into trouble still going to that same location? David Swift Deputy Chief Constable

The 46-year-old faces a three-year match ban but was bailed when he appeared at a UK court on Saturday.

The Home Office say they are trying to ensure it does not happen again.

Under European rules on the transfer of sentenced prisoners, British citizens receiving jail terms in an EU country have to first be detained and then apply for repatriation if they are to go on to serve their term back home.

"Had they put him in jail then we would immediately have been able to start negotiations on transfer," Mr Blunkett told Radio Five Live.

Kent Fire Service confirmed they had suspended Mann from duty, and may sack him following an internal inquiry into the allegations against him.

Good behaviour

Deputy Chief Constable David Swift, the senior British police officer advising the Portuguese, admitted he was "disappointed" with the outcome of the case, but said it would act as a deterrent to others.

"I would have thought that the experience he has gone through in the last two or three days, including all the media attention, is a powerful deterrent to anyone who is thinking about getting into trouble."

He said he was getting six more British police officers to assist his operation in Portugal.

They will help escort deported fans back to Britain and will add to the team of about 24 officers advising the Portuguese and acting as "spotters".

And he called on England fans to stay away from the strip of bars in Albufeira where most of the trouble had taken place.

Portuguese police have made several arrests in Albufeira

"Why are responsible, law-abiding citizens who profess not to want to get into trouble still going to that same location?

"Any subsequent protests of innocence from people arriving from that location are fairly hollow," he said.

He paid tribute to the good behaviour of England fans who had travelled to Coimbra to watch England play Switzerland on Thursday.

On Saturday evening 12 more England fans arrested during violent clashes in the Algarve last week arrived back at Heathrow.

Scotland Yard said no action would be taken against them.