A MAN who invaded the pitch during a football game in West Yorkshire has been left nearly £500 out of pocket.

Thomas Jewson, 21, of Ventnor Terrace, Halifax, went onto the playing area at the John Smiths Stadium during Huddersfield Town's 2-2 home draw against Queens Park Rangers on April 15 this year.

He pleaded guilty to going onto the pitch without lawful authority or lawful excuse, contrary to sections 4 and 5 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991.

He was fined £350, must pay a £35 surcharge to fund victim services and was ordered to pay costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service. The total bill comes to £470.

The court decided that a banning order would be disproportionate considering Jewson had no previous offences and was not known to police regarding football matches.

Kirklees Magistrates Court, which dealt with the case on May 3, also noted that the offence involved no violence.