Soccer hooligan John Mack faces jail after he was convicted for his part in a violent brawl between rival supporters.

Former pub landlord Mack, 49, was among 15 people arrested after Brighton and Hove Albion fans attacked Leeds United supporters in Brighton last October.

Tables and chairs were hurled through the window the of The Pump House pub in Market Street during the clash just hours after the two teams played at Withdean Stadium.

Mack, of Walmer Crescent, Bevendean, punched and kicked a police dog and picked it up by the throat as he tried to escape the scene.

He was found guilty of violent disorder at Hove Crown Court yesterday. The jury failed to reach a verdict on co-defendant Sami Abulbashar, 20, of Stonery Road, Portslade, and were discharged by Judge Anthony Niblett.

Mr Abulbashar will face a retrial.

Mack will be sentenced after the retrial along with eight other men who pleaded guilty to violent offences on the night.

Judge Niblett told him: "A custodial sentence is inevitable."

Mack had watched the Brighton vs Leeds match on a giant screen at Hove greyhound stadium before embarking on a pub crawl with friends.

The former landlord of the White Admiral, Bevendean, claimed he was an innocent bystander who was in the wrong place at the wrong time when violence erupted.

But his account was rejected by ten of the 12 jurors.

During the trial, Christine Laing, prosecuting, described the incident, a throwback to the dark days of violence at grounds across England in the Seventies, as football hooliganism at its worst. She said people were shocked and terrified as Brighton fans hurled missiles at Leeds supporters.

A group of 25 men stood outside the Pump House chanting: "Seagulls, Seagulls" and "Come on out if you want it."

Miss Laing added: "A huge amount of damage was caused. "Everyone who witnessed what happened was shocked and terrified at the level of violence."

PC Darren Saunders saw Mack escaping in a cab and ordered him to stop. He chased after him with Reagan, his four-year-old German Shepherd police dog.

He unleashed the dog, which seized Mack's right arm.

PC Saunders told the court: "I told him to stand still and I would release the dog but he continued to kick and punch Reagan.

"He picked him up off the ground by his throat which made me quite scared of the situation.

"Reagan weighs 42 kilos and I was quite fearful of what was going to happen.

"I struck Mack on his shin with my baton and he dropped Reagan.

"He was still aggressive and raised his fists and took up a fighting stance.

"I was thinking about my own safety and how I could detain him.

"I told him to lie on the ground and he stepped towards me so I sent the dog on to him again.

"I sprayed Mack for two seconds in the face with pepper spray which causes pain in the eyes. "