A CLARETS fan who ran on to the pitch during the recent home match against Preston North End will be banned for life from Turf Moor.

Jack Robinson, 23, escaped a police banning order when he appeared before Burnley magistrates on Wednesday but now the club itself has made its own ban.

The match, which Burnley won 3-1 saw a series of unsavoury incidents, including away fans ripping up 100 seats in the Cricket Field stand.

Robinson, who has a history of violent offences, ran on to the pitch in celebration following Steven Caldwell’s 64th minute goal during the match on September 27.

At court, Judge Simon Newell said a ban – the minimum is three years – would have been too long for Robinson, but added he did not want people to think they could run on a pitch and not get an order.

After the case, PC Diane Murphy, football banning order officer for Lancashire Constabulary, said she was very disappointed with the result, but added Robinson would now be notified of a lifetime Turf Moor ban. She said: “We are trying to rid football grounds of people like Jack Robinson, who think it is appropriate to run on to a football pitch while a game is in progress.

“We think he should have got a ban. In the light of what’s happened recently, we don't want people like him in football grounds and neither does Burnley FC.”

A spokesman for the club said work has now started to ban him from matches at Turf Moor, although he would be able to attend matches at other stadiums.

The club has a zero-tolerance policy on fans running on to the Turf Moor pitch.

Robinson, of Tunstill Street, Burnley, was fined £75 with costs, for the incident.