A football fan must pay £1,500 after verbally abusing a woman on a train in London.

John Patchett, 44, from Redcar in North Yorkshire, was convicted of using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

On February 25 this year, Patchett was travelling on board a train between Forest Hill and London Bridge with a group of other football fans after a match between Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough.

The victim, a 29-year-old woman, boarded the same train as Patchett.

He attempted to engage her in conversation, and when he was rebuffed he started verbally abusing her and singing football songs directed towards her, making sexual comments regarding her appearance.

This continued until other members of the public stepped in.

When she arrived at London Bridge, the woman pointed the offender out to police officers.

The victim had recorded footage of his behaviour on her mobile phone.

Patchett attended Middlesbrough Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday (August 8) and pleaded guilty to the offence.

He was fined £1,250 and ordered to pay £250 in compensation.