Tyler Scott was captured on CCTV provoking a number of Hornchurch FC fans before their National League fixture with Barrow AFC on August 15 earlier this year, South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said the away supporters were walking from the train station to Wetherspoons on Abbey Road at 1:20pm when they encountered the defendant and other ‘Barrow AFC risk supporters’.

Mr Dacre said Scott – age 18 – was at the front of the group and escalated matters.

CCTV footage played to the court showed a brawl in which the defendant launched both kicks and punches to others.

“It is absolutely disgraceful behaviour,” Mr Dacre told magistrates.

The court heard Scott had convictions in the youth court for battery, assaulting an emergency worker, possession of a knife and using threatening behaviour.

He was sentenced in the adult court for the first time on October 14 after pleading guilty at the first opportunity to using threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour with intent to cause fear of / provoke unlawful violence.

Scott, of Beckside, Pennington, was represented in court by solicitor Trystan Roberts.

“What a shame,” Mr Roberts told magistrates. “This was a young man doing relatively well.

“It was a disgraceful act. He knows he behaved disgracefully. “It is an incident that lasts less than one minute, but it was sustained. It has escalated in violence generally in the area.

“I have spoken to him about a football banning order. He does not contest that. This is a young man who has said he deserves a banning order.

“He will serve a punishment for the offence as well as a banning order. He enjoys football but accepts that is what is going to happen.

“You should take into account the defendant’s age and lack of maturity.

“He has had difficulties in an educational establishment and now lives with his grandmother. She has always encouraged him to take responsibility.

“There is clearly work to be done. He is continuing with his college course and is very proud of the qualifications he has been able to achieve.”

Magistrates sentenced Scott to a high-level community order comprising of requirements to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, a probation requirement and an eight-week curfew between the hours of 6pm and 6am.

They also made the defendant subject to a three-year football banning order.

“It is clear to us you are a football hooligan,” Chris Harris, the chair of the magistrates’ bench told Scott.

“You are a thug.

“What concerns us is what you are doing to your grandma. You are letting her down terribly. Your grandparents have done enough for you. You should be ashamed and apologise to them immediately.

“In short, grow up.”

Court costs of £85 and a £114 victim surcharge were finally sought.