FOOTBALL hooligans who lashed out at advertising boards and hurled abuse at police officers have been banned from attending matches.

Luton Town fans Harry Duffy, 48, and Dean Wootton, 36, admitted damaging advertising boards at the U’s ground, the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Duffy also admits urinating in a police van and racially abusing an officer.

The pair were part of the 1,942-strong away crowd who made the journey to Colchester for the match on March 30.

With the game inching towards a 2-1 victory to Colchester United, Luton Town fans grew increasingly agitated.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard kicks were launched at advertising hoarding and stewards had to intervene when a fight broke out in the stand.

Wootton, of Surbiton Road, Ipswich, admitted criminal damage and using threatening or abusive behaviour.

Ashley Petchey, prosecuting, said: “His behaviour shows a level of anger and frustration. There were children in the stand who would be alarmed by this sort of event. Mr Wootton confirmed he had attended the match with his 17-year-old son.

“He described the match as rubbish. He stated he had consumed four pints of lager but said he wasn’t drunk.”

“When the case was summarised by an officer he agreed and said he was disappointed and had let himself down.”

Rob Perkins, mitigating, said: “This is a man who is careful, caring, considerate and thoughtful. He is a family man and a working man.

“The actions he took on this particular day were completely out of character. They are not the actions of someone who conducts their life in that way.

“He cannot convey how ashamed and remorseful he feels. This is a team he has been passionate about for many years, indeed he has been to many matches without any incident. They weren’t doing so well and in a moment of madness he vented his frustration by kicking out.”

“He also accepts words used by him would have been witnessed by a number of young people, family people visiting the game.”

Duffy, of Beaufort Street, Southend, admitted causing criminal damage and racially aggravated harassment.

Mr Petchey said: “One of the people identified to kick the hoardings was Mr Wootton, the other was Mr Duffy. “Due to the aggression and disorder on display, Mr Duffy was removed from the ground.

“He was subsequently arrested for the criminal damage to the board.

“When he was questioned as to his conduct, the defendant made the reply ‘Yeah, I love my club, I would do anything for them’.”

While awaiting transfer to custody at Colchester Police Station, Duffy urinated on the floor of a marked police van and threatened to defecate.

He then made a racist slur at a police officer.

Magistrates ordered Wootton to pay a total of £1,201 in fines, compensation and court costs.

Duffy was sentenced to a total of eight weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. He must carry out 60 hours of unpaid work and pay £450 in compensation and court costs.

Wootton was banned from attending any regulation football match for three years, while Duffy received a four year ban.