A football fan has been fined £1,500 after verbally abusing a woman on a train in London.

John Patchett, aged 44, of Lulworth Close in Redcar, was convicted of using threatening / abusive / insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment / alarm / distress.

On 25 February this year, Patchett was travelling on board a train between Forest Hill and London Bridge with a group of other football fans following a Crystal Palace v Middlesborough match.

The victim, a 29-year-old woman, boarded the train in the same carriage as Patchett.

He attempted to engage her in conversation and when he was rebuffed he started verbally abusing her, began singing football songs directed towards her and made sexual comments regarding her appearance.

This continued until other members of the public stepped in.

Upon arriving at London Bridge, the woman pointed the offender out to police officers.

The victim had recorded footage of his behaviour on her mobile phone.

Patchett attended Middlesborough Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday (8/8) and pleaded guilty to the offence.

He was fined £1,250 and ordered to pay £250 compensation.