A WREXHAM football fan who clashed with Newport County supporters ahead of a match admitted possessing a CS gas canister.

However, Owen Phillips pleaded guilty on the basis he was punched to the floor by opposing fans and picked up the canister from the ground as protection.

Phillips, 31, of Fishponds, Bristol, appeared at Caerphilly Magistrates' Court, where he was ordered to pay a total of £635.

Prosecutor Tom Roberts said police were made aware of a disturbance near the town bridge before the game at Rodney Parade on January 4.

They had been told Phillips had the canister and arrested him on suspicion of possessing a firearm at the Millennium Bridge.

Mr Roberts said during the altercation, Phillips was punched to the head from behind and fell to the floor.

The prosecutor added: "At interview, he admitted picking the canister off the ground during the disturbance after it had been discharged by another man. His intention was to use it in self-defence if he was attacked."

Defence solicitor Andrew Twomlow said Phillips wasn't responsible for the altercation and had the canister for little more than 60 seconds.

He said he usually goes to matches with his wife, but because she was heavily pregnant at the time, he went to the County game with friends.

Phillips has one other conviction for a football-related matter. In January 2007, he was fined following a Wrexham cup game at Derby.

But, Mr Twomlow said this was also an unlucky arrest. He said: "Following a Wrexham goal, he celebrated by jumping on to a hard-standing the wrong side of the fence, where supporters weren't meant to be. Two men were arrested for this."

Chairman of the bench Graham Hoyle said he didn't believe Phillips had contributed to the violence in Newport, so didn't issue a football banning order.

He ordered him to pay a £500 fine, £85 costs and £50 victim surcharge.