A CLARETS fan who rubs shoulders with royalty, heads of state and Government ministers in his roll as an RAF police officer was arrested during the derby match between Blackburn and Burnley.

Blackburn magistrates heard Joshua Thomas Bramwell, 23, was thrown out of the ground because of his ‘excessive’ celebrations of Burnley’s second goal.

But when police officers told him he would not be allowed back in, he said: “I was just celebrating a goal. This is a joke. You lot think you are hard but you are not stopping me going back in.”

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said it was sad that uniformed officers should be subjected to abuse simply for doing their job.

“It is particularly sad when it comes from someone who serves in the RAF,” said Miss Allan. “He perhaps should have more respect for officers doing a difficult job.”

Bramwell, 23, of Pinners Close, Ramsbottom, pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour. He was fined £230 with £105 costs.

The magistrates declined to make a football banning order saying they did not think it was necessary or proportionate.

The chairman told Bramwell: “Behaviour like yours can incite the rest of the crowd. For the sake of your career you need to keep a lid on your temper.”

Miss Allan said when Danny Ings scored a number of fans surged forward and climbed netting.

“The defendant celebrated excessively and failed to calm down,” said Miss Allan.

She added Bramwell had a caution for resisting a police officer in 2010 and had also received a penalty notice for a similar offence. In June 2013 he was dealt with for an offence of assault at an RAF summary hearing in the Falkland Isles when he was fined £500.

Dylan Bradshaw, defending, said his client was a senior aircraftman based at RAF Northolt. A reference from his employers referred to his ‘diplomacy and tact’ in dealing with ‘heads of state, the Royal Family and ministers of the Government’.