A youth who admitted posting racist and sectarian comments on an internet social networking site has been spared a custodial sentence after writing letters of apology.

Celtic fan Michael Bailey was banned from attending football games for two years and also given a community payback order after he left messages on a Facebook group called 'Neil Lennon Should Be Banned' and his own page.

They were derogatory remarks about Rangers' fans, former Ibrox player El Hadji Diouf and the club's ex-manager Walter Smith.

Bailey, 20, a first offender, had pleaded guilty last month at Glasgow Sheriff Court to posting comments of a "racist and sectarian nature" between March 7 and 8 this year. Since making that appearance he has moved house from Bridgeton, Glasgow, to Paisley.

As part of the order he must carry out 300 hours of community service.

Sheriff Johanna Johnston, QC, told him: "Bigotry, sectarianism and racism have caused a lot of problems in west Scotland and elsewhere in the country. It is criminal behaviour that has led to outbursts of violence and disorder in the city."

Stephen Bentley, defending, said: "Mr Bailey has written to all of the people named within these postings."