A BURNLEY soccer thug could be jailed after breaching a football banning order.

Nicholas Speak, 24, formerly of Clough Street, Burnley, is a convicted soccer lout and banned from all UK football grounds after a string of violent incidents at football matches across the country.

He was spotted by police at the Rotherham v Burnley match in November. He had previously been banned from Burnley Football Club for life.

He was arrested on November 16 and appeared before Burnley magistrates yesterday after entering a guilty plea to public order offences.

Magistrates adjourned the case to seek advice before sentencing because the offence is so rare.

The arrest was made as part of Operation Fixture -- a police operation to curb football hooliganism in Burnley.

Since its launch in December Operation Fixture has seen 104 people arrested, match bans imposed, and 12 people barred from town centre pubs and clubs.

According to local police, the initiative has also led to a significant reduction in the threat of disorder both before, during and after matches, with fans and club officials bearing testimony to the improvements.

Sgt Graham Lister, who is working on Operation Fixture said: "Because this is such a rare offence it was adjourned.

"We thought he was just going to get his hands slapped and that would have been it. We can't promise he will get a custodial sentence but if there is it will be a groundbreaking step for us and will act as a warning to others thinking of doing the same thing.

"It will also help us ensure our objective to help make sure fans can go to matches without having to worry about the small minority who go simply to cause trouble."

Speak will appear before magistrates again on April 30.