A LIFE-long Burnley fan arrested after enjoying a half-time cigarette at a match has slammed heavy-handed stewards.

Clint Shackley had gone to watch his Clarets heroes play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light when he was told he wasn't allowed to light up in the stands.

He was arrested and charged after taking exception to his treatment and swearing at a steward and police officers.

Clint, 35, of Dale Close, Burnley, claims the subsequent court case has cost him more than £3,000 in lost earnings and travel costs.

He admitted a public order offence when he appeared in court earlier this week and was fined £60.

Clint, a married father-of-two, said: "I've been a Burnley fan for more than 20 years and have never known anything like it, it is ludicrous.

"I can understand fans being punished if they run on to the pitch or fight at games, but to go through what I have endured for smoking a cigarette is ridiculous and totally over the top.

"This has taken almost three months to get sorted out and during that time I have been banned from going to any games.

"I have had to travel to and from the court in Sunderland and have had to turn down work, which all in all has cost me about £3,000. Now that's what I call an expensive cigarette."

He added: "I don't deny that I swore when the steward told me I couldn't smoke, but that was because I was so amazed at what he was saying. Everyone else in the stand was smoking so I assumed I could too.

"There was no need to treat me like a criminal. At the very worst I could have been escorted out of the ground."