Ananova:

The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins told a fan to "F** off" believing her to be from a music magazine.

Sarah Hartnett, 17, had won a contest to fly to Los Angeles to watch the band play a small gig.

But after a few songs Hawkins stopped the gig and shouted: "Seriously, f*** off, I don't want you in here."

But he realised his mistake after he was told Sarah won her tickets in the music magazine - which had slagged off his band two years ago.

He apologised and offered to sign her T-shirt after the gig, says The Sun.

Sarah, of Horsham, West Sussex, said: "I get really scared of people when they start shouting at me and started to cry. Then the woman said, 'She's not from the NME, she won it through the NME'.

"He said, 'Oh crap, I'm sorry, I just didn't know, we've had some trouble with the NME and stuff'.

A Darkness spokesman said: "Justin was very sorry for his outburst. When he realised she was a fan he searched for her and apologised and offered her some free merchandise.

"It wasn't as bad as first thought."