AN IPSWICH Town fan was fined �500 after shouting abuse at match stewards during a home match against Peterborough United.

AN IPSWICH Town fan was fined �500 after shouting abuse at match stewards during a home match against Peterborough United.

Warren Reynolds, 41, was arrested after he made homophobic remarks and reference to a steward's ginger hair during the game on December 8.

South East Suffolk Magistrates heard Reynolds, of London Road South, Lowestoft, had gone to the match with a friend as part of his birthday celebrations.

Stewards approached Reynolds when he refused to sit down during the first half of the game and he later became abusive when police officers became involved.

When Reynolds' friend threw his hat onto the pitch, officers noticed he smelt strongly of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet and had slurred speech.

Reynolds then started shouting obscenities and lurching towards stewards before being led away from the stadium.

Lesla Small, prosecuting, told magistrates: “Once inside the police van, Reynolds was banging his head against the cage inside.

“His friend was trying to calm him down but he was swearing at him as well.”

Reynolds, who was in court with his wife, apologised for his behaviour, saying he was drunk.

“I am sorry I made a fool of myself,” he said. “I have let myself down, my wife down and my family down.”

Reynolds pleaded guilty to being drunk in a sports ground and using threatening words or behaviour.

Magistrates fined him a total of �500 but did not ban him from the Ipswich Town ground.

Leisha Klein, presiding magistrate, said: “It is not acceptable to be drunk in any sporting ground. Certainly not to use that sort of behaviour against the police of stewards.”