AN avid Swindon Town supporter has been found guilty of hurling racist abuse at a coach and players at the County Ground.

Simon Sheppard, 38, from Littlefield Cottage, Ham Road, Shelbourne, Marlborough, was given a two-year conditional discharge by Swindon magistrates on Monday after he admitted using racially threatening, abusive or insulting words.

The charges related to incidents during a Swindon Town and Huddersfield Town match on October 11 at the County Ground.

According to other matchday fans, who were sitting alongside Sheppard in the family section of the ground, he began his rant about 25 minutes into the match after a scuffle between the teams.

After seeing what he later described to police as a “bad tackle” by a black Huddersfield player his chanting became racist.

Kate Blackmore, for the prosecution, said: “He then began to chant you black ******** you black ***** again four or five times.

“At that point some complainants, who were disgusted by the language, moved to a quieter part of the ground.”

He then made Scottish taunts at former boss Maurice Malpas.

He was then reported to a steward and was taken into custody by police.

Michaela Rose, defending, said that Sheppard, who is of good character and had never been in trouble with the police, should not face the charges.

She said he should have been cautioned.

She said: “He has never been in trouble with the police before. If this had been in the street he would have received a caution.

“He realises his behaviour was unacceptable.

“He doesn’t consider himself a racist and just got carried away in the atmosphere.

“He has come across to me as very resourceful. As he sits here he is shaking because he is extremely nervous.”

She added that at the time chants about Maurice Malpas’ exit from the club were quite common from the stands Bob Sparling, the chairman of the bench, said that if Sheppard stayed out of trouble for two years he would hear no more of it.

The police are also seeking a country-wide football ban on Sheppard which will be decided at a hearing in the near future.