Four men involved in last June's Euro 2004 football riots had their sentences upheld after a top judge dismissed their appeal.

Sean McElroy, 19, Sydenham Road, Croydon, sentenced to 30 months, Matthew Carroll, the son of a High Court judge, from Cheyne Walk, Addiscombe, and Stuart Morris-Brooks, from Northampton Road, Addiscombe, both 20, who were jailed for 27 months, all had their sentences upheld.

Lewis Rees, 21, from Lillie Road, Biggin Hill, who was given 34 months behind bars, also had his appeal thrown out at the Royal Courts of Justice in London last Friday.

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, rejected submissions from barristers that the sentences given to the four men were too harsh and said the law-abiding citizens of Croydon were entitled to be left in peace.

But Bill Killick, 21, from Penfold Road, Crawley, who was involved in the disturbances after England's defeats against France and Portugal in the Euro 2004 tournament, had his sentence cut from four-and-a-half years to three years and nine months.

In his summing up, Lord Woolf said the trouble that flared after the matches, which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, demonstrated the dangers of binge drinking and how high spirits could transform into criminal behaviour.

He insisted it is important for the courts to send out a message that these acts will not be tolerated.

Family and friends of the five men sat in the public gallery in hope that their sentences would be shortened, but many of them left visibly distraught.

However, in a poignant moment, as the five men were escorted back to their cells, Lewis Rees waved and blew a kiss to his family as he left the dock.

Lewis's dad, Paul Rees, said he was disappointed by the outcome of the appeal.

"It seems that they just haven't taken public opinion into consideration, we had over 1,000 names on a petition agreeing the sentence was too harsh, so I'm surprised they have chosen not to take notice, though we never held much hope of getting anywhere.

"He Lewis doesn't want to hear much more about it now, he just wants to get on with it. There's not much we can do about it so the best thing we can do is carry on."

Chief Inspector David Clayton of Croydon police said: "Sentencing is clearly a matter for the courts to decide and not the police. However, having brought these offenders to justice we were satisfied with the outcome of the appeal court before the Lord Chief Justice.

"This should still send out a clear message that the police will actively pursue those responsible for alcohol-related crime and disorder."