A BLACKBURN fan who smashed a stadium seat at Turf Moor when the home team scored has received a three-year football banning order.

Construction worker Matthew Clitheroe, who had been drinking, kicked the seat, picked up the broken part of the wood, ignored a steward and then started chanting, a court heard.

Clitheroe’s solicitor, Jasmine Basnyet, told Burnley magistrates: “It was an impassioned response to an impassioned match.”

Clitheroe, 27, of St Hubert’s Street, Great Harwood, was one of four Rovers supporters in court yesterday over incidents related to last month’s derby, and was the only one who was banned.

Chairman Graham Jagger said his actions had been ‘a reckless act in a volatile situation’.

Clitheroe admitted £80 damage on September 14, and was fined £265, with £85 costs, a £26.50 victim surcharge, and must pay £80 compensation to Burnley Football Club.

Other Blackburn fans before the bench were mother-of-five Kayleigh Wardingley, of Windermere Close, and her friend, Lindsey Feast, of Lawrence Street, both 25, and of Blackburn.

The two tried to sneak a ‘trophy’ damaged seat out of the ground, stuffed up Wardingley’s jacket. They were caught when a football intelligence officer spotted her walking out at an angle. Feast, who has two children and was in breach of a conditional discharge for battery, was fined £55, with a £20 victim surcharge and £40 costs.

Wardingley received a six-month conditional discharge, with a £15 victim surcharge and £40 costs. Both admitted theft of an £80 seat.

Lifelong Rovers fan Daniel Riley, 40, of Willows Lane, Accrington, was arrested after being abusive to a police officer. The courier was given a six-month conditional discharge, and must pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. He admitted using threatening, abusive, or insulting words, or behaviour.