A drone pilot who filmed an Arsenal v Tottenham derby from above, as well as other football matches involving Liverpool and Manchester City, has been fined £1,800.

Between September and November last year Nigel Wilson captured aerial views from heights of at least 100 metres of Premier League, Champions League and Championship games.

The married father-of-two filmed Derby County v Reading, Arsenal v Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium and Manchester City's game against Spurs at the Etihad Stadium.

One of his drones startled police horses at a Champions League group stage game between Liverpool and Ludogorets at Anfield.

As well as flying over football grounds, the 42-year-old used his mini remote-controlled aircraft to film London landmarks from the sky.

Posted on YouTube with a dramatic soundtrack, his videos included Big Ben from close range, the Queen Victoria memorial next to Buckingham Palace and the Shard skyscraper.

Sitting at Westminster Magistrates' Court, District Judge Quentin Purdy fined the security guard £200 for each of nine offences he admitted.

He was also ordered to pay £600 in costs and a £20 surcharge, while forfeiting the drones and cameras.

Wilson, from Bingham in Nottingham, pleaded guilty to four charges of flying small unmanned surveillance aircraft over a congested area and five of not maintaining direct, unaided visual contact with a small unmanned surveillance aircraft.

It is the first time a person has been prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service for using drones following a police-led operation.

Judge Purdy told Wilson he had put the public at risk by flying the drones over busy, built-up areas.

He said: "At each and every one of these places an accident could have occurred simply by a gust of wind or something of that nature taking it out of your control.

"In each and every case you knew what you were doing. Several times you were warned by police, who seized drones from you, and on numerous occasions by people posting on your YouTube channel. It was the height of arrogance in terms of public safety."

Susan Bryant, defending, described her client as a "hobbyist", adding: "It was something he put a great amount of time into in terms of improving his skill."

The Air Navigation Order 2009 says operators of small unmanned surveillance aircraft must not fly them over or within 150 metres of any congested area, over or within 150 metres of an organised open-air assembly of more than 1,000 people, or within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the user's control, unless they have obtained permission from the Civil Aviation Authority.

It also says users must maintain direct visual contact with a drone throughout its flight path so they can avoid collisions with people and buildings.