An England yob whose brother was murdered by a Turkish soccer thug today admitted taking part in the shameful scenes that marred the last meeting between the two countries.

Andrew Loftus, 32, was distraught when his brother Christopher, 35, was stabbed to death in Istanbul in April 2000.

Christopher and another man were killed by Galatasaray fans on the eve of the club's UEFA cup clash with Leeds United - an incident which sparked years of bitterness between British and Turkish supporters.

Yesterday's case, before Sunderland Magistrates, comes days before another tense encounter between England and Turkey, a match English fans have been warned to stay away from for their own safety.

Father-of-one Loftus, an IT worker, of Harehills, Leeds, West Yorks, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words and behaviour before the Euro 2004 qualifier at Sundetrland's Stadium of Light on April 2 this year.

England won the match 2-0 but mounted riot police were called in to disperse rampaging thugs trying to attack Turks as they arrived at the ground by coach.

Both England goals were followed by pitch invasions which resulted in threats to ban the team from the finals in Portugal next summer.

Magistrates heard how Andrew Loftus ran over to a camera crew filming fans streaming towards the ground and lashed out, swinging two or three punches at the shocked cameraman.

Richard Roger, mitigating, said Loftus had developed a dislike of camera crews since the media coverage of his brother's murder.

Prosecutor, Veronica Jordan, said: "The police noticed a group of youths, including the defendant in the High Street area of Sunderland.

"Officers followed the group and as they reached the McDonalds restaurant, they became aware of a camera crew.

"The defendant began attacking the cameraman, throwing two or three punches. The police arrested him and the cameraman fled from the scene.

"In police interview the defendant said he didn't like to be photographed and admitted punching out at the cameraman, possibly hitting him on the shoulder."

The court heard how Loftus had previous convictions for disorderly behaviour, but none in the last seven years.

Mr Roger, for Loftus, said his client had been seriously affected by the death of his brother.

He said: "On April 5, 2000, two Leeds fans were murdered while trying to support their club, the Leeds football team.

"The defendant's brother was one of these men. He was stabbed to death and the man was arrested and charged with murder.

"There was a great deal of publicity. This defendant was contacted by the media at the time.

"He knew with the England-Turkey game coming up, tension was high in the area and the press wanted a story.

"His brother's death had a terrible affect upon the family and Mr Loftus is on anti-depressants as a result.

"On that night the camera crew jumped out him, presumably they were of who he was. As far as he is concerned, this was an invasion of his privacy.

"There was a lot of tension, a lot of policemen and a lot of people running around. But he was on his way to the match - he was not causing any trouble, he was minding his own business."

Mr Roger said the cameraman had not suffered any injury and that police released Loftus just as the match was ending.

He added: "This defendant and his family have been through a lot. He snapped on that day and he couldn't take any more but he is remorseful.

"He is a respectable man and it is unlikely ther is going to be any repeat of this behaviour.

"It is not every day England play Turkey in Sunderland, but he cannot explain why he went to this match."

Loftus was given an 18-month conditional discharge, ordered to pay £95 costs but was spared a ban from attending football matches.

Chairman of the bench, Mavis Creighton, said: "We do sympathise with your position, it must be very, very difficult at times.

"But you have pleaded guilty to this offence. We are not making a football banning order because the link between the match and this incident is very tenuous."

In May 2002 Ali Umit Demir was jailed for 15 years for murdering Christopher Loftus and publican Kevin Speight, 41.

At his trial Demir claimed drunken Leeds fans were harassing women and making obscene gestures to the Turkish flag.

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