SHAMED Paul Shanks has narrowly avoided a football banning order after making a Nazi type salute at a Portman Road match.Shanks, 29, of Belvedere Road, Ipswich, had been enjoying corporate hospitality in the Galleria Restaurant before the drunken incident at the Ipswich verses Wimbledon match.

SHAMED Paul Shanks has narrowly avoided a football banning order after making a Nazi type salute at a Portman Road match.

Shanks, 29, of Belvedere Road, Ipswich, had been enjoying corporate hospitality in the Galleria Restaurant before the drunken incident at the Ipswich verses Wimbledon match.

The season ticket holder admitted being drunk in a designated sports ground on September 20 this year. A charge of racially aggravated behaviour on the same date has been dropped.

Prosecutor Stephen Coleman told magistrates police asked Shanks to leave the Portman Road ground because he was drunk.

Mr Coleman said: "He started to leave, then returned and began taunting the crowd and officer with Nazi style salutes."

Howard Catherall, mitigating, said Shanks – who has no previous convictions – felt humiliated and deeply ashamed of his actions and has not been to a match since.

"He has been turned off football and doesn't wish to go to any football match again."

Mr Catherall said Shanks had been entertained by corporate hospitality and was offered alcohol "continuously". "He lost track and found himself in the condition he did."

Since the incident he delivered letters of apology to the Galleria and a police officer. The court heard he regretted his actions so much "he can't look a police officer in the eye." His arrest has made him look at all aspects of his life.

Magistrates decided against making a football banning order after reading glowing character references, saying Shanks had shown "obvious remorse" and the incident was out of character.

Instead they granted him a three-month conditional discharge.