A SOCCER thug who lashed out during a clash with rival fans before a crucial England game was jailed yesterday.

Gary Clarke karate-kicked an opposing fan during a brawl outside the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, on April 2 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the 38-year-old, from Nottingham, did not even have a ticket for the Euro 2004 qualifier match, but became involved in the violence outside the ground before the game started.

Julie Clemitson, prosecuting, told the court that Clarke kicked his victim and continued to kick him as he lay on the ground,

Parts of the incident were captured on video by police "spotters" and was played for Mr Recorder Brian Forster at the sentencing hearing yesterday.

Clarke, of Arnold, near Nottingham, admitted affray.

Jamie Adams, defending, said that despite having a string of previous convictions for public order offences and already being the subject of a football banning order at the time, Clarke had not set out to cause trouble.

Clarke needed nine stitches to a wound caused when he was hit by a stick with a nail pushed into it and was also bitten by a police dog during his arrest.

Mr Recorder Forster jailed him for four months and banned him from attending football matches at home and abroad for six years.

The judge said: "It is very important all members of the public realise that parents and their children can go to football matches without being in fear of being exposed to the type of violence I have been able to look at on this video footage."