The man who invaded the stage during last night’s world darts final is notorious Canterbury prankster Lee “Discoboy” Marshall.

As the eventual winner Michael van Gerwen prepared to throw for the match, Marshall left his seat in the audience and grabbed the Sid Waddell trophy before waving it about.

Security officers then rushed the stage at London’s Alexandra Palace and wrestled him away.

Marshall, who was wearing blue foam hands, has now been banned from all events put on by the company which operates the tournament.

His stunt was greeted with boos from the 3,000-strong audience.

Player Mark Dudbridge, a losing finalist in 2005, condemned the invasion.

He said: “People running on stage should not be promoted on social media. This can seriously hurt darts and encourages further problems.”

Viewer Keith Jackson added: “Van Gerwen should have kept throwing and got the moron in the eye.”

Van Gerwen went on to defeat Scotland’s Gary Anderson 7-3 in sets to lift his second PDC World Darts Championship title.

Afterwards, he told newsmen: “That was a bit sad – you always get people like that who try to be funny.

“He’s not allowed to do that and he probably won’t see another darts match in his life.”

PDC chief executive Matt Porter added: “It was an unfortunate incident that was dealt with swiftly.

“Regrettably, there is no legal recourse, but he will be banned for life from all of our future events.”

Marshall, who lives in Sturry, is part of the Trollstation group of internet pranksters which is claiming responsibility for the stunt.

His other pranks include setting up a sound system in Waterloo train station and blasting music out while cavorting in a pair of underpants.

He also was filmed dancing and singing the Justin Bieber song Sorry in front of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby outside the Cathedral gates.

Last year Marshall received a fine after he filmed himself slapping fellow internet prankster Jack Jones with a pizza outside Canterbury West train station.

He also received a suspended prison sentence for a stunt in Gravesend in which an off-duty police officer believed he was in possession of a firearm.