A TEENAGE football hooligan is facing a ban from matches today after magistrates found him guilty of attacking an Ipswich Town fan.David King, from Hornchurch in Essex, punched the Blues supporter twice following West Ham's play-off victory at Portman Road in May.

A TEENAGE football hooligan is facing a ban from matches today after magistrates found him guilty of attacking an Ipswich Town fan.

David King, from Hornchurch in Essex, punched the Blues supporter twice following West Ham's play-off victory at Portman Road in May.

The 19-year-old Hammers fan was seen throwing two punches to a man's head as his victim cowered over and tried to protect himself.

Following a two-day trial, magistrates in Ipswich found him guilty of threatening behaviour but adjourned sentencing until February 17.

Gordon Semple, prosecuting, said an application for a football banning order would be made which would prevent King from going to England or West Ham matches.

Earlier in the trial magistrates had heard Sergeant Bob Munn's account of the attack in which he described King as “almost like a wild animal” and told how the attack had caused one carriage of the London-bound train to be emptied.

Alan Wheetman, defending King, said there were issues over whether Sgt Munn has had a clear view of the offender.

He said: “We know we are dealing, effectively, with a slight glimpse.

“It is only Sergeant Munn that claims to have seen this.

“He was convincing, of that there is little doubt. When someone asks you how certain you are and you say 100 per cent, that's a fairly convincing statement. A convincing witness can still be a mistaken one.”

Witnesses for the defence claimed they had not seen King punch anyone but magistrates questioned the reliability of their evidence.

Fenella Blastland, chairwoman of the bench, described the witnesses as not “particularly helpful” and said magistrates believed Sgt Munn's account.

King has one previous offence, committed last year, in which he assaulted a female member of door staff.