Two middle-aged brothers started an "undignified brawl" in front of their 99-year-old mother in a row about family photographs, a court heard.

Margaret Thorpe, who is blind, partially deaf and suffers from Alzheimer's, was unaware of the fracas erupting as Michael, 61, grabbed his brother Richard, 59, in a headlock at the foot of her bed.

The pair fell out last August when Michael confronted his brother about a photo album Richard had borrowed a year ago and not returned.

Michael, who has spent 20 years caring for his mother at her home in Baden Road, Brighton, told Richard he needed the pictures to communicate with their mother.

But Richard, of Brown's Lane, Uckfield, infuriated Michael by replying sarcastically: "Missing them, is she?"

Prosecutor Caroline Harris told Brighton magistrates yesterday that Michael put Richard in a headlock, dragged him to the floor and punched him repeatedly in the face.

Richard said when he asked if he could get up, Michael punched him again and said: "You can get up only when I say you can get up."

Richard told the court: "I did nothing at all to my brother. I had only challenged him having heard he had been speaking about me behind my back.

"I told him if he had anything to say he could say it to my face. When he punched me he said, Is that in your face enough?'"

Michael denied a charge of assault by beating but was found guilty.

Andrew Foreman, defending Michael, said Richard had turned on his client, striking him in the arms before Michael had punched him once in self-defence.

Photographs showed Richard's bruised and bloodied only hours after the assault. Pathologist Freddie Patel said the abrasions were consistent with one punch.

Deputy District Judge Jonathon Radway convicted Michael of assault and said: "Richard Thorpe impressed me as a frank and honest witness. I acknowledge his account of this undignified brawl to be true."

Michael, a psychiatric nurse, admitted he was clinically depressed.

The brothers had barely spoken to each other for four years, he said.

Michael said after the hearing: "I just want to go on looking after her without any interference and intimidation.

"I can't see myself and my brother rectifying our differences."

Having ruled out a prison sentence, Judge Radway postponed sentencing till Thursday, March 2, to consider psychiatric reports.