A teen who let off a smoke grenade that caused chaos at a Carlisle United game admitted his crime straight away telling police: “I am sorry.”

The 16-year-old – who has been given a football banning order for three years – had travelled in a minibus from his home in Cumbria to Exeter for the away league match on March 12.

But drinking on the bus took its toll and when they arrived at St James’ Park the boy was handed a grenade by an “unknown male”. He took it into the toilets and lit it.

The incident prompted a major fire scare which resulted in the game being stopped for more than an hour and part of the stadium having to be evacuated.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Carlisle Youth Court, where he admitted possessing a firework/flare at a sporting event.

Prosecutor John Moran told the court that the boy travelled to the match in a minibus with nine other fans.

He said the youth was drunk when he ignited the fuse on the grenade in the toilets.

Mr Moran said: “Smoke was seen coming through the floorboards of the Old Grandstand where 890 Exeter fans were sitting – many of them elderly and some children.”

The game was stopped in the fourth minute and it took two and a half minutes to evacuate the stand. When police approached the boy he said: “It was me. I did it in the toilet. I am sorry.”

The boy, who had not been in trouble before and lives in west Cumbria, was said to be “very remorseful” for what he did.

Mr Moran said: “He did not realise that it was an offence to possess it (the smoke grenade).

“He went into the toilets in a panic and ignited the fuse.

“He was very remorseful and fully aware of the disruption that the incident had caused.”

Defence solicitor Katrina Byrne said: “A football banning order is going to be a severe punishment for him.

“He and his family are genuinely devastated to find themselves in this situation.

“He lives in an area where if you keep yourself busy with sport then you keep on the straight and narrow.

“This has been a significant learning curve for him and is completely out of character.”

His parents, who accompanied their son in court, said the incident had been “life changing”.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Coughlan said: “Hopefully cases like this send out a deterrent to others.

“The Exeter game was just a couple of minutes away from being called off which spoils it for all the fans – including the ones who had travelled from Carlisle to watch.

“There is also the safety issue to consider too.

“Carlisle United is a family club and we want it to stay that way. We just have to root out the bad apples.”

Andy Hall, media officer at Carlisle United, said: “The events following the activation of the pyrotechnic device at Exeter were a demonstration to us all of why there has to be a zero-tolerance approach.

“The evacuation of the stands was handled extremely well, but the safety of the public was placed at risk, and we cannot allow the club to be associated with such incidents.

“We will continue to remind people of the very real dangers of pyrotechnic use and, where appropriate, we will assist the authorities and take the necessary action.”

The boy was also given a four month referral order and must pay costs of £85 and a £15 victims surcharge.

Earlier this week, Owen Newbury, 18, of Skinburness Drive, Silloth, was given a five-year football banning order after admitting racially aggravated public disorder.

He shouted abuse during Carlisle United’s cup clash with Everton on January 31.