A court in the German city of Essen has convicted four football hooligans for their part in the brutal beating of a French policeman during last year's World Cup finals.

The main defendant Andre Zawacki was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to ten years in jail.

Three others were convicted of grievous bodily harm and given prison sentences of between six and three-and-a-half years.

The French policeman Daniel Nivel suffered brain damage, and nearly died, during the beating which took place during a World Cup match between Germany and Yugoslavia in the northern French town of Lens.