West Ham's joint-chairman has today slammed a judge who compared a Kent pitch invader to David Beckham.

Boozy fan Jordan Dunn, from Dover, swerved a match ban yesterday when he appeared in court for taking a free-kick during a Premier League match.

The 22-year-old appeared before a district judge at Thames Magistrates' Court in Bow, east London, yesterday to be told he had "bent it like Beckham".

District Judge Gareth Branston described how Dunn sprinted across the pitch before kicking for goal.

But he added: "Regrettably it was about 30mph slower than Beckham."

Now West Ham FC joint-chairman David Gold has criticised the comments.

He posted on Twitter this morning: "'You bent it like Beckham': Judge PRAISES drunk pitch invader who took free kick. What kind of message does this send out??"

Dunn pleaded guilty to invading the pitch during the West Ham-Tottenham Hotspur derby at Upton Park.

He was given fines totalling £305, but avoided a match ban.

Speaking before the case, Dunn admitted knocking back eight beers before deciding to dash 80 yards across the turf to take the strike.

The Hammers fan - who works on reception at the Premier Inn on Dover seafront - hit the target and was then bundled to the floor by stewards and arrested.

But he said he had no regrets about pulling the stunt.

"I know it was a mistake, but it was definitely worth it," he said. "My phone hasn't stopped going off and even Gary Lineker tweeted about it. My mates think I'm a legend."