Nigel Chapman

A “moonwalking” Lincoln City fan has been banned from Sincil Bank for a second time.

Season ticket holder of six years Shane Barton ran onto the pitch and briefly performed the Michael Jackson dance move at last month’s home league fixture with Charlton Athletic.

The 27-year-old received a three-year ban from attending any FA match in the UK and a court bill of £811.

ALSO READ: Football fan banned after storming pitch during Lincoln City game to goad Imps

City magistrates heard that Barton had received a club ban about three years ago after playfully giving a player a “comedy double slap” on the cheeks in a match against Sunderland.

This week the groundworker, of Cupola Close, North Hykeham, pleaded guilty to going onto a playing area at a football match on October 16.

The hearing was told that Barton was one of a number of fans who got on to the pitch after Charlton had scored a second-half equaliser.

Prosecutor Marie Stace: “A police officer observes Mr Barton running on to the pitch near to the away end. He initially assumed he was an away fan but then saw that the stewards were walking him back to the Co-op stand, which is for home fans.

“So he escorts Mr Barton on to Sincil Bank. He says: ‘This was disrupted by other fans trying to get to Mr Barton but we did manage to get him outside.’”

She added: “After caution, he did say to the officer that he had got a little excited.”

In interview, the defendant admitted his actions and said he’d had four to five pints.

Solicitor Vicki Clayton, mitigating, said Barton described his excitement as going over to fans and doing a “moonwalk”.

“He got carried away, went on to the pitch and the moonwalk was less than ten seconds before he was escorted off,” she added.

Miss Clayton asked the magistrates not to impose the football banning order as there had been no violence shown towards anyone and a ban would also punish a young child who usually attends matches with him but hadn’t that day.

Referring to the previous ban imposed by Lincoln City, Miss Clayton said Barton had later written to the owner apologising for his actions and the club had agreed to end it.

Bench chair Pamela Newman told the father-of-three: “You were in drink but the worst thing was that you entered the playing area and there were other people around you could’ve incited into doing things.

“Winding people up, whether intentional or not, is going to cause problems.”

As well as the ban, Barton was fined £660 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £66 victim surcharge.

A Charlton Athletic fan who ran on to the pitch at Lincoln City and goaded home fans has been given a three-year football banning order.

Thomas Morris, 36, also picked up a £516 court bill and copped an earful from his pregnant wife when she found out that he had been arrested.

To make matters worse for him, Charlton conceded a late winner and he missed the last train home from Lincoln because he was in custody.

ALSO READ: Moonwalking Imps fan banned after Michael Jackson move on pitch

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday that his drunken moment of madness happened in the 63rd minute of the League One fixture on October 16 after Charlton had scored an equaliser.

He jumped over advertising hoardings behind a goal at Sincil Bank and ran towards the Co-op Stand.

Morris was “cheering, chanting and waving his arms” towards Imps fans in block seven and admitted that he may have made a rude gesture with a fist.

Prosecutor Marie Stace said: “In interview, he said he’d had too much to drink and jumped on to the pitch because he got carried away.

“[He said] it was a stressful time supporting his team at the minute and when they scored he got carried away because others do it at matches he’s been to.”

Morris insisted he had not shouted, sworn or tried to incite any violence. He pleaded guilty to going onto a playing area at a football match.

In mitigation, the defendant said he was sorry and it wouldn’t happen again.

He added: “I’ve never done any violence in my life. I was drunk and made a mistake.

“I missed the last train from Lincoln and had to pay more than £30 to get to Newark just to get home.

“My wife wasn’t speaking to me and says if it happens again we’ll get divorced. I had to bring her up here today and it’s cost me £100.”

A football banning order can be imposed when certain offences have been committed and a court believes it would help to prevent violence or disorder in future.

Morris, of Henderson Grove, Biggin Hill, Kent, is now banned from attending any FA match in the UK for 36 months.

Bench chairman Pamela Newman told him that he had acted like a “complete prat”.

She added: “If you’ve got a season ticket, I’d flog it.”

Morris was also fined £392 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £39 victim surcharge.