A record-breaking cricketer from Pembrokeshire who was banned for swearing has lodged a complaint with the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE).

Australian David Lovell, who captained village side Lamphey, is still waiting for his appeal in front of Pembroke County Cricket Club (PCCC) after he lost his High Court action against the ban in May.

I believe I'm being unfairly treated because I am Australian

David Lovell

Mr Lovell, 32, said PCCC was stalling until his two-month ban is over.

However, the club denied this, saying they are waiting for Mr Lovell to contact them.

The CRE said it cannot comment on any individual case.

The player has maintained he should have been allowed to play pending an appeal.

Official records show Lovell's average of 199.6 runs per game last season was the highest of any cricketer in England and Wales.

"This is a last resort for me," said Mr Lovell.

David Lovell has not played this season

"I believe I'm being unfairly treated because I am Australian.

"All I have ever wanted is a fair hearing, but PCCC keep moving the goalposts or in this case the stumps.

"My livelihood has been affected by this."

Mr Lovell, who lost his job with the recent closure of ITV Digital call centre in Pembroke Dock, now faces a legal bill of several thousand pounds.

He had admitted swearing and making offensive marks but he contested the ban on the grounds the original disciplinary hearing by PCCC last September was not fairly held.

But Mr Justice Neuberger, sitting in Haverfordwest County Court last month, said Mr Lovell had not fully exhausted PCCC's appeals procedure.

He also commented that, as a gesture of goodwill, PCCC should allow Mr Lovell to play until an appeal hearing was held.

John Green: 'Appeal offer not genuine'

The secretary of PCCC Bill Marchant refused to comment on the matter.

PCCC solicitor Stephen Hill said: "PCCC are not obliged to allow Mr Lovell an appeal but indicated they would do so.

"The constitution of the panel has been passed on to Mr Lovell so it is now up to him to decide."

But John Green, secretary of Lamphey cricket club, said: "I can show all correspondence where dates for an appeal panel have been changed by only one side and that is PCCC.

"We have done all we have been asked to do.

Appeal offer

"We arranged for a district judge to chair the panel, booked a hotel and even arranged a standby solicitor, but everything has been turned down.

"We had an offer that if Dave did not play in Pembrokeshire again, the ban would be lifted but we rejected that immediately.

"I believe that PCCC's offer of an appeal has never been a genuine one and I cannot see how Mr Marchant can continue with any credibility in his post."

Mr Lovell was offered a contract to play in the South Wales League but the ban prevented him from doing so.

The ban is due to expire on 29 June.