A Hearts supporter has been banned from football matches for six months and fined £220 after making "scissor-snipping" gestures towards supporters at Tynecastle Stadium.

Stuart Atkinson, 36, from East Craigs Rigg, Edinburgh, was caught by stewards monitoring the travelling Spurs’ fans’ behaviour at the Europa Cup match in August last year.

Sheriff William Holligan was told that the stadium was full to capacity and Atkinson was sitting near the away side’s fans. He began making gestures with his hands, imitating "scissor snipping" at Tottenham fans.

Defence solicitor, Graeme Runcie, said his client had acted on an impulse in the heat of the moment during the match, where Hearts lost 5-0. Mr Runcie explained the motion, saying Tottenham Hotspur were a team associated with the Jewish culture.

Mr Runcie said Atkinson accepted he had "over-stepped the mark", but he added it had been "banter and interplay between two sets of supporters". 

He said Atkinson had already suffered due to his actions. He had been a long-standing season ticket holder at Tynecastle and his £400 ticket had been suspended.

He claimed that as a result of media interest, Atkinson had lost his job as a transport manager.

Atkinson pleaded guilty to breach of the peace on December 1 in Edinburgh Sheriff Court, and sentencing was deferred until Tuesday January 10.

The charge originally contained allegations that Atkinson made anti-Semitic gestures towards Spurs’ fans.

However, the Crown agreed to remove the allegations from the charge after Atkinson agreed to admit his guilt.