A 26-YEAR-OLD Burnley fan was labelled a ‘drunken, racist yob’ by magistrates who jailed him for 11 weeks.

Blackburn magistrates heard the incident started at Royal Blackburn Hospital where James Thomas Gorton was shouting racist abuse at security staff and police officers who removed him from the premises because of his drunken behaviour.

In the van on the way to the police station he alternated banging his head on the wall with singing Burnley football songs and at the station he struggled violently with officers, one of them suffering a broken finger, the court heard.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Gorton, of Browsholme Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour and resisting a police officer. As well as being jailed he was fined £120 with a £115 victim surcharge.

The chairman of the magistrates said Gorton’s disgraceful behaviour had started in A and E, continued in the van and in the custody suite where the officer suffered a broken finger.

“If you are in A and E and not feeling very well the last thing you want to see is a drunken, racist yob which is how you behaved,” he said. “The way you behaved was despicable.”

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said officers at the hospital became aware of shouting and were approached by a nurse who told them Gorton was causing trouble and security staff were struggling to deal with him.

“They found him in the parking bay used by ambulances delivering emergency cases and he was struggling violently with three members of the security staff,” said Miss Allan. “After the officers handcuffed him he started singing racist songs at the security officers. He tried to head butt one of the police officers and kicked out as they put him in the back of the van. He was transferred to the police station and between hitting his head on the side of the van he was singing Burnley football songs.”

Daniel Frazer, defending, said his client knew his behaviour was totally unacceptable.

“He has issues in relation to alcohol abuse which seems to be behind most of his offending,” said Mr Frazer.

He said on the day of the incident Gorton was taken to hospital after suffering a seizure.

“He can’t remember anything about the incident,” said Mr Frazer. “He’s been sober for 10 days which may not sound like a great achievement but it is for him.”