A LIVERPOOL supporter who attacked a police officer at St Mary’s has been banned from football grounds for three years.

Joseph Parker, from Cheshire, assaulted the officer during Saints’ Premier League clash with Liverpool at St Mary’s on April 5.

Liverpool came from behind to win the game 3-1, after Saints had taken an early lead through Shane Long.

Parker, 22, of The Beeches, Ellesmere Port, pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer.

He was made the subject of a three year football banning order – preventing him from attending all football games until 2022.

Parker was also made subject of a 12 month community order, which includes 120 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £85.

Speaking after the case, Superintendent Paul Bartolomeo who oversaw the policing operation at the Southampton v Liverpool fixture said: “I welcome the result of this case.

“We are committed to officer safety and ensuring officers, and staff, are given the support they need.

“An assault on our people should never be seen as ‘just part of the job’.

“Officers and staff come into contact with people who are sometimes going through the worst experience of their lives, but this doesn’t give them the right to ever verbally or physically abuse our people.

“While in this case there was no serious injury caused, the impact of assaults on officers can be huge.

“It not only affects that individual officer, but that officer’s family, and the people we serve because that officer may not be able to immediately return to duty.”

The Echo were unable to reach Liverpool FC for a comment.