A Blackburn Rovers fan who ‘mooned’ Derby County supporters after his team took a 2-1 lead late in the opening game of the season was told he should be "ashamed" of himself.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Martyn McLeod also made a cut-throat gesture towards the away supporters in the Darwen End from his place in the lower tier of the Jack Walker stand.

McLeod blamed the mooning on weight loss and loose-fitting jeans falling down as he bent over to pick something up, an excuse rejected by the judge.

McLeod, 45, of Queens Court Avenue, Penwortham, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour. He was fined £300 with £85 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.

He was also made subject to a football banning order for three years.

Henry Prescott, prosecuting, said the incident occurred at Ewood Park on Friday, August 9.

In the 72nd minute, Blackburn's Andreas Weimann scored their second goal to make the score 2-1. 

“The defendant was stood in the lower tier of the Jack Walker Stand and started gesticulating towards the Derby fans in the Darwen End,” said Mr Prescott.

“He was seen to bare his buttocks towards the Derby fans. That lasted for a few seconds before he pulled his pants up.”

Mr Prescott said McLeod then made the cut-throat gesture. He was removed by stewards and then arrested by the police.

Waseem Ahmed, in mitigation, said his client admitted making the hand gesture but denied deliberately exposing his backside.

“He tells me he had lost a good deal of weight in a short time and his jeans were too big for him,” said Mr Ahmed.

“He says his jeans fell down when he bent to pick something up.”

Mr Ahmed said McLeod had been following Rovers for 27 years and had never been in trouble before.

“He understands that he is going to receive a football banning order,” said Mr Ahmed.

Deputy District Judge Christine Egerton said she had heard the claim the defendant’s trousers had fallen down because they were loose.

“I don’t accept that,” said Deputy District Judge Egerton.

“What you did was quite deliberate and was actually caught on CCTV.

"Lots of people saw what you did and you should be ashamed of your behaviour.”