AN accountant from North Yorkshire was yesterday banned from attending football matches for three years after he took part in a pitch invasion at Darlington Football Club's last game of the season.

Mark Russell, 22, is now banned from attending any game in England or Wales under his football banning order, and cannot go to Neasham Road for two hours before and one hour after Darlington play at the Williamson Motors Stadium.

Russell is also barred from travelling to any stadium where Darlington or England are playing.

Darlington Magistrates' Court was shown video footage of Russell on the pitch at the Williamson Motors Stadium last month, taunting the Cheltenham fans after Darlington won.

Russell, of Conan Drive, Richmond, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

He also pleaded guilty to damaging the door of a police van after his arrest, for which he was fined £50 and £100 compensation. He was also ordered to pay £34 costs.

Chris Bunting, mitigating, said there were several other people apart from Russell who had invaded the pitch.

"Every single other person who entered that pitch has committed an offence, but he happened to be the person at the front," he said.

Russell has apologised to Darlington Football Club for his behaviour.

Mr Bunting said: "As a consequence of this order, Mr Russell is not going to be allowed to watch his favourite sport. It is going to serve as a genuine punishment."