A NOTORIOUS football hooligan who headbutted a police officer in a revenge attack was jailed for two years today.

West Bromwich Albion supporter John Lloyd assaulted Pc Martin Portman in a pub following his team's Premiership clash with Middlesbrough on September 27 last year.

Lloyd, 47, who has previous convictions for hooliganism dating back to the eighties, blamed PC Portman - a spotter with West Midlands Police - for getting him jailed in 2007.

Lloyd had been among seven West Bromwich Albion hooligans who took part in a pre-arranged fight with rival Wolves fans. On that occasion he received an 18-month prison sentence and was banned from attending all football matches for six years.

Today, prosecutor Paul Newcombe told Teesside Crown Court: "The Crown's case is that this was an unprovoked attack on an off-duty police officer."

Mr Newcombe said PC Portman, and a colleague PC Andrew Hollies, were off-duty in the Black Bull pub in Yarm town centre having spent the day observing West Bromwich Albion fans attending the Middlesbrough match.

As Pc Hollies bought a round of drinks at around 9.45pm Lloyd approached, the prosecutor said.

"At the bar the defendant spoke to PC Hollies, called the officer bent and told him that the case was a stitch up and the 18-month prison sentence had ruined his life," he said.

"The Crown say the defendant was very angry.

"PC Hollies returned to the table with the round of drinks and told PC Portman to be careful and that he's "got it in for you"."

A short time later, PC Portman went to the toilet and Lloyd approached the officer in a nearby corridor.

Lloyd argued with the officer about his jail sentence and PC Portman replied: "There's nothing I can do and its done with."

"The defendant's response was to headbutt PC Portman in the face," Mr Newcombe said.

Lloyd than ran from the pub and was later arrested in the West Midlands area.

PC Portman, who was in court today, suffered a fractured nose, two chipped teeth and also underwent treatment for neck and back pain.

Lloyd, of Brunswick Park Road, Wednesbury, West Midlands, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to a Section 20 charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The hearing was told that although Lloyd was on Teesside he had not breached the terms of the football banning order by being in Yarm town centre.