A football fan racially abused a Lincoln City player because of a bad tackle during a game, a court heard.

Michael Windmill visited Sincil Bank to watch Notts County play the Imps on September 29, after being invited along by friends.

The 53-year-old was sat with the away fans in the Co-op stand upper tier when, shortly before half-time, he reacted to an incident on the pitch.

Lincoln Magistrates' Court heard Windmill thought a tackle made by a black City footballer was unfair and shouted a four-letter racist comment at him.

Prosecutor Jim Clare said a club steward watched as Windmill made the slur.

Mr Clare said: "The steward clearly saw a male, three rows behind him, stand up and shout out the abuse. He appeared to be directing it at a black Lincoln City player involved in the tackle on the Notts County player.

"In line with club policy, he escorted Mr Windmill outside the ground, identified him to police and he was arrested."

In a statement read out in court, Lincolnshire Police deputy football intelligence officer PC Karl Williams said Windmill told him afterwards: "I know what I said, it was spur of the moment. I know I should not have said it."

In mitigation, Richard Marshall said the words came "blurting out" of his client's mouth.

"It was a very unfortunate incident," he said. "Mr Windmill tells me he is an occasional football supporter and not somebody that attends regularly. He has friends who follow Notts County and I think Nottingham Forest. He goes to possibly half a dozen games a season and he accepted the invitation.

"There was a tackle on the pitch. He thought it was a little bit unfair and the words came blurting out. It was not premeditated and he very much regrets saying it.

"He made admissions to police and was escorted out of the ground without any trouble. I have spoken to him and I don't detect underlying problems. He says he is very sorry and he should not have said it.

"He is 53-years-old, never been before the court, is remorseful and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity."

Windmill, of Theresa Court, Balderton, near Newark, pleaded guilty to one offence of racially aggravated public order.

No application for a football banning was requested because of Windmill's previous good character.

He was fined £180 and ordered to pay costs of £85, plus a £15 victim's surcharge.