A FOOTBALL fan who sent a racist tweet to Celtic star Moussa Dembele on the day of an Old Firm match found himself with a hefty fine this week.

Deryck Connor, 25, of The Beeches, Lochgelly, sent an offensive tweet about the striker which said he "peeled bananas with his feet" and also sent a message to former Celtic player, now pundit, Chris Sutton, in which he branded him a "bead rattling b******".

Another obscene message about the Pope was also found when police officers carried out enquiries into the racist tweet.

Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Connor had earlier admitted that on March 12 at his home, at the Elizabethan Pub in Dunfermline, or elsewhere, he sent Dembele, Sutton and others whose identities are unknown, messages through Twitter that were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character in that he repeatedly posted offensive comments of both racial and religious hatred.

The Court heard that police were made aware of racist tweets being made about Dembele and carried out an online search to trace the author of the tweets.

When questioned by police, he admitted that he had sent the tweets.

Connor's solicitor, Peter Mullen, said his client wasn't stupid and understood how inappropriate the messages were.

"He is humiliated and is keen to put this chapter of his life behind him," he said. "He is a first offender who is intelligent enough to understand how inappropriate this was.

"He has given up his season ticket for Rangers on the back of this so he is making efforts to take a step back from that."

Sheriff Craig McSherry said as he was a first time offender, he would fine Connor £700.