A FOOTBALL fan who ran onto the pitch during the East Lancashire derby and exposed himself to opposition fans has been handed a three-year banning order.

David Beauchamp, 23, from Burnley, pleaded guilty to entering the field of play while a match is in progress at the game on September 14.

Beauchamp, a road layer who represented himself in court, was also fined £305 after jumping out of the Burnley supporters’ section.

The banning order means that Beauchamp, of Briercliffe Road, is banned from entering Turf Moor, and also banned from entering any town centre for three hours before or after a football match involving Burnley FC.

Defending himself, Beauchamp, who has no previous football-related convictions, said he was not a football hooligan.

He said: “I admit that I had been drinking a lot but it was a one-off occasion that had got out of hand.

“I only pulled my shorts down towards the Blackburn fans because they started to throw bottles at me.”

Beauchamp was one of four Burnley fans to appear before Burnley Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with alleged derby day related offences.

Liam Riley, a 26-year-old scaffolder from Station Road in Padiham, received a conditional discharge of 12 months and a £100 fine after pleading guilty to using threatening and abusive language towards a police officer in a dispute over crowd filming techniques whilst in the Forresters Arms.

The case of Daniel Fisher, who had been charged with using threatening words or behaviour, was adjourned until December 20, whilst Brian Barnes, 52, of Fir Street, Nelson, arrested on the same offence, received a conditional discharge and a £100 fine.

Meanwhile Karl Holmes, 29, from Industrial Street in Bacup, received an absolute discharge after being arrested for being drunk in a designated sports ground.

The former soldier, who had served in two tours of Afghanistan, had dressed up as a chicken for the match.