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A Stoke City fan who racially abused a steward has been fined more than £3,000 and banned from attending matches for four years.

Jason Vernon, 54, from Chell, Stoke-on-Trent, will not be allowed to attend games, including international fixtures, following remarks he made after Stoke’s home game against Blackburn on 25 November last year.

Vernon racially abused the steward as he left the ground and later assaulted a police officer.

He pleaded guilty to racially aggravated common assault and assault by beating of an emergency worker at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.

He was fined £2,160 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £864 victim surcharge.

PC Ben Greensides said: “Incidents of hate at football matches will not be tolerated and neither will violence against our officers.

“This outcome is the result of the positive work being done by Stoke City, Staffordshire Police and the courts to stamp out this unacceptable behaviour and we will continue to take action against those who use football stadiums as a venue to commit crimes of hate.”

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