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A drunk footy fan who ran onto the pitch to take a free kick during the London derby between Spurs and West Ham "bent it like Beckham", according to the judge sentencing him.

Pitch invader Jordan Dunn, 22, was fined £305 but spared a football banning order after he pleaded guilty to taking a free kick during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham last month.

Despite downing six pints that day, Dunn, from Dover in Kent, almost managed to score with the left footed strike towards the West Ham goal, which was saved by goalkeeper Adrian.

The hotel receptionist was then wrestled to the ground by Upton Park stewards and later arrested, before being charged with entering the pitch without lawful authority.

His impressive effort put to shame the attempt of £11m midfielder Christian Eriksen, whose later strike flew over the bar into the stands during Spurs' 1-0 win.

(Image: PA)

Sentencing him, District Judge Gareth Branston even praised Dunn's skill, despite the amount of alcohol he had drunk, and described the enjoyment it had brought the crowds.

He said: "On the afternoon of the 16 of August about 35,000 football fans paid to watch 22 men in shorts and footballs boots kick a football around for 90 minutes.

"They were paid to entertain the crowd.

"Some time into the game a young man in a checked shirt and red converse ran onto the pitch.

"That was you. You were not paid for that and you committed a criminal offence in so doing.

"You proceeded to run some 70 yards across the pitch chased by stewards, one of whom fell over.

"Tottenham had lined up for a free kick, and you took it for them.

"To be frank you were probably a little tired by the time you got to the ball, it was a longer run than was strictly necessary.

"You had consumed alcohol and your stride pattern was a bit out of kilter but, to borrow a phrase, you did bend it like Beckham.

"Regrettably it was about 30mph slower than David Beckham and the West Ham goalkeeper did his job by easily saving it.

"The professional footballer who followed you did not do any better."

(Image: Getty)

District Judge Branston fined Dunn £305 for breaking the law by running onto the pitch, but refused to issue an order banning him from future games, which had been requested by the Crown.

Judge Branston said: "Having achieved your childhood ambition, you won't be doing it again.

"Others need to be deterred from attempting to do it otherwise football matches would become very tedious affairs if everyone was allowed to run onto the pitch and more of a risk if drunken hooligans sought to invade the pitch and assault players."

Dunn represented himself at Thames Magistrates Court today.

He explained his actions as a "moment of madness" and said he could only "apologise" for what he had done.

He said: "I'm sorry for what I have done.

"It was really just a moment of madness. It was an of the moment thing, I just went.

"I was going to just to run onto the pitch and as I was running I saw the ball and thought I would just kick it."

Best pictures from the weekend's action: