A CLARETS fan had an "unpleasant end to an unpleasant day," after his team was beaten and he ended up in the cells.

Burnley magistrates heard how Carl John Bracewell, 23, swore at police and squared up to an officer after the Burnley v Blackburn derby match last December.

Bracewell, of Birtwistle Avenue, Colne, admitted behaving in a manner where a breach of the peace might be caused and was bound over in the sum of £100 to keep the peace for 12 months.

An allegation of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour was dismissed by the bench.

Bill Maude, prosecuting, said a police officer in the centre of Burnley saw a group of youths shouting and gesticulating and they were warned about their behaviour.

About 20 minutes later, the officer saw the same group near the Keirby roundabout and they were told to move on and catch the bus.

Bracewell said they were not doing anything because his brother's knee was hurting.

The request was repeated but the defendant told the officer to leave them alone, squared up and swore.

Dylan Bradshaw, defending, said Bracewell was an avid Burnley fan and finishing up in the cells was an unpleasant end to an unpleasant day.

He had been making his way home, when his brother who suffered a chronic knee problem, became unwell and was resting.

They had been for a few drinks before and after the match and were intending to return to Colne.

Police attempted to move them on because there were potential crowd difficulties that day but they had difficulty making their way because of the brother's problems.

The defendant, who accepted his behaviour could have led to a breach of the peace, felt a little aggrieved because he had been kept in the cells until well beyond midnight.