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The Sunderland fan at the centre of a 'poo-gate' scandal has identified himself and responded to claims he defecated on his seat in the stands.

Baby-faced Callum Mawson, 17, was accused of defecating in the stands as his team were beaten 1-3 by Reading at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

It came after footage and images emerged showing the teenager squatting over his seat, with his trousers and underpants around his ankles.

But Callum, who admits he was incredibly drunk, has come forward to set the record straight - insisting that he did NOT defecate on his seat.

He said he had only eaten two chocolates from his advent calendar before drinking 12 bottles of beer and six pints of fruit cider on the day of the match.

(Image: NNP)

Callum, a season ticket holder, said he couldn't recall the incident but believes he must have been so drunk he thought he was on the toilet.

The business admin apprentice, from Horden, County Durham, has now apologised amid fears he will be sacked from his job and banned from the Stadium of Light for life.

He said: "I am apologetic for it, I am sorry. I didn't defecate on the seat, that's the God's honest truth. I can't recall any of it.

"I got to the ground, sat in my seat and the next thing I remember was I was being in the holding cell in the stadium.

"I didn't find out about the whole incident until half 11 at night when my friend told me. It was all over Facebook. Gary Lineker had put it on his Twitter.

(Image: (c) North News & Pictures ltd)

"It's embarrassing, I'm ashamed. I didn't even know what I was doing.

'A lad who sat next to me put on Twitter saying it didn't happen. He said, 'I can confirm he didn't have a s*** in his seat'. He said, 'I can I can confirm he had a piss'.

"I'd rather it be that then having a s*** on the seat. But I'd rather it be nothing at all.

"I think I must have been so drunk I thought I was on the toilet. That's the only thing I can think of. I wouldn't have done it for no reason.

"I don't know what was going through my head when I did it, I really don't.

"There's been people messaging me giving me hate. I don't want people to think I don't care. I am ashamed of it.

"There is no excuse for what I have done, I regret my actions, but there is no need for such hurtful comments. I understand why it's had so much attention but I don't appreciate the lies."

Callum, who has had a season ticket for three years, drank 12 bottles of Budweiser and six pints of Strongbow Dark Fruit before travelling to the match.

He said he had nothing to eat that day apart from two chocolates from his Christmas advent calendar.

Callum said: "I was drinking at my house then I met up with mates at the pub and had a few there. I didn't carry on drinking when I got there.

"But I had been out all night the night before at a party - that probably didn't help. I got home at 8am and started drinking about 9am."

Callum said spent around eight hours in police custody after being arrested for being drunk at a football ground.

(Image: Get Reading)

He said: "I have been suspended from work because of it. I think I'm going to get sacked to be honest.

"I'm slightly worried it will affect getting a job. But it wouldn't affect my work life - I'm not going to come to work drunk.

"I'm not usually like that. It's just a one off, I'm not sure why it's happened. I'm going to have to watch what I am drinking in the future.

"My mam and dad are going to support me through the whole thing.

"I think the club will ban me. I'm going to be upset of I'm not going to be able to go to the home matches any more. But I can't feel hard done by - it's my fault, I have done it."

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "Further to media reports reporting a fan defecated on his seat during the Sunderland v Reading match on Saturday, police would like to clarify that this was not the case."