A Wycombe fan peppered an Oxford United steward with racist abuse when he was asked to stop smoking during last September’s League One draw.

Nathan Birkett, 26, was handed 80 hours of unpaid work and a three year football banning order at Oxford Magistrates’ Court this week after he admitted racially-aggravated threatening behaviour.

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Thames Valley Police’s football officer PC Jonathan Evans said: “The victim in the case was working as a steward for Oxford United and Birkett racially abused him for simply doing his job.

“I welcome the court imposing a three-year Football Banning Order on Birkett and I would like to thank Oxford United and Wycombe Wanderers for their assistance in the investigation.

“Football matches should be a safe place for all people and Thames Valley Police will always deal with discrimination at football matches seriously and apply for Football Banning Orders where appropriate.”

Birkett, of Amersham Hill, High Wycombe, was watching the Buckinghamshire side take on Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium on September 11 last year.

A steward caught him smoking, which is not allowed in the stadium.

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When the man approached Birkett and asked him to stop smoking, he was racially verbally abused by the High Wycombe man.

The Wycombe fan was thrown out of the ground and the case picked up by Thames Valley Police.

Oxford magistrates ordered Birkett pay £100 compensation to the steward and £40 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

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