A MAN who attacked a police officer on patrol after Burnley FC's game with Preston North End has escaped a football banning order.

Burnley Magistrates' Court heard Darren John Copeman, 37, who had not been to the match, got caught up in a crowd of fans as he travelled home on March 6.

The officer had been filming in the town as part of intelligence work on football hooliganism - and the defendant saw red as he did not like being videoed.

The prosecution applied for a football banning order as, it claimed, the officer was on operational duties and the assault was football-related. Copeman was said to have deliberately gone towards the victim and attacked him.

The Crown alleged the offence clearly affected the crowd as the officer had been telling supporters to back off, adding that the repercussions could have been serious and "could easily have got out of hand."

The defence maintained the assault did not incite the crowd.

Copeman, of Mitella Street, Burnley, was recently convicted of police assault after a trial. He was cleared of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

The defendant, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £50 compensation, with £150 costs.

Sentencing, the magistrates bench ruled the offence was not football-related, accepting he had not attended the match nor on a journey to or from it.

Neil Addison, defending, told the court the offence was not football-related but had occurred after a soccer match.

The barrister continued: "There is a real stigma attached to a football banning order. It indicates something. It is a valuable weapon to the court but should be made when it is appropriate."