Rangers fan who ran onto Dens Park pitch spared stadium ban

A Rangers fan who ran on to the pitch during a Premiership match and stole a flag from rival fans has been spared a stadium ban.

Richard Brooks invaded the pitch during his side's 2-1 defeat to Dundee at Dens Park on February 19.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard he ran towards the Derry stand at the Dark Blues ground and tried to pull a flag from home fans sitting there.

However, Brooks - who has a previous football related conviction following an incident at a game between Rangers and St Johnstone in 2010 - was quickly apprehended by police.

But despite his previous conviction Brooks avoided being handed a football banning order and was instead ordered to carry out unpaid work in the community.

The 47-year-old pleaded guilty on summary complaint to a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.

Sheriff George Way imposed a community payback order with 100 hours unpaid work - but declined to impose a football banning order.

He said: "If you get in to trouble again you will be banned."

Goals from Mark O'Hara and Kevin Holt gave Dundee their first home league win over Rangers since 1992.

Joe Garner's second half strike failed to spark a comeback for the visitors.