A notorious soccer thug nicknamed "The Belly of Brussels" has been banned from Euro 2004 -- thanks to a book written by a former hooligan mate.

Twenty-stone Lee Owens was also banned from every football ground in the country and from visiting any town or city where Middlesbrough FC are playing for the next three years.

In a civil case brought by Cleveland Police -- one of the first of its kind in England -- father-of-three Owens, 38, was branded a "violent thug" hell-bent on causing chaos at soccer matches nationwide.

During Euro 2000, he was famously pictured with his tattoed belly hanging out as he was arrested and frogmarched away by police following a riot.

The same photograph -- which shows one tattoo saying "Pussy Hunter" and another around his belly button which reads "Made in Stockton" -- was then featured in the book The Frontline -- Battling for Boro.

Written by reformed football yob John Theone -- real name John Pulling -- it catalogues events where violent Middlesbrough fans have taken on rival thugs at matches across Britain.

In it he refers to "Oatsy" being involved and the book was used in evidence at Teesside Magistrates' Court to show Owens' thirst for violence.

District Judge Christine Harrison said the £7.99 book was a "diary of violence" and she said no court in the land would tolerate football hooligans.

She ordered that Owens be banned from attending soccer games under the Football Disorder Act 2000.

More known thugs are still to come before the courts to face similar orders to stop them travelling to Portugal in the summer.

Det Sgt Ian Fawcett, of Cleveland Police's Football Intelligence Unit, detailed violent disturbances dating back to June, 2000, when Owens had to be deported in shame from Belgium.

Others involved running fights with police at games against Tottenham, Hull, Wigan and Fulham where officers in riot gear were called in to contain the violence.

Owens was also spotted by police intelligence officers among rioting fans and the England-Turkey game at Sunderland's Stadium of Light in April, 2003.

Owens, often fuelled by drink, was identified on CCTV footage at pubs and bars where Middlesbrough were playing away matches.

And he hurled abuse at an off-duty police officer who went to Cardiff to watch Middlesbrough take on Bolton in the Carling Cup Final last month.

DS Fawcett told the court he was satisfied that Owens -- who failed to attend the hearing so was banned in his absence -- had been present when violence had erupted and the police and public had been put in danger during running street battles.

Julia Hatton, for Cleveland Police, said: "There is sufficient evidence that Mr Owens has caused or contributed to violence in these matters and that, on the balance of probabilities, this evidence shows a banning order should be imposed against him."

Full story in tomrrow's Northern Echo.