Relief as jury delivers pub attack not guilty verdict (From Warrington Guardian)

Relief as jury delivers pub attack not guilty verdict

"I'M just relieved that it is over and justice has been done."

The words of John Nolan after the 39-year-old was cleared of inflicting grievous bodily harm during a fight in The Friars Court pub in the town centre.

"It's been a very difficult 12 months," said Mr Nolan, minutes after a jury found him not guilty at Warrington Crown Court on Friday.

"It's been stressful and I just want to move on now."

Mr Nolan was accused of attacking 36-year-old Alan Forrest last January after the pair bumped into each other.

"There is a dispute about exactly what happened," Recorder Simon Medland told the jury.

Mr Forrest told the trial that Mr Nolan became intimidating and threatening after they collided.

He said that after he tried to push Mr Nolan away, he was punched several times and ended up on the ground with a broken leg.

But Mr Nolan told the jury he thought that Mr Forrest threw the first punch and that he hit out to defend himself.

CCTV from the pub showed Mr Forrest walking towards Mr Nolan and pointing a finger.

Recorder Simon Medland told the jury that they should not convict Mr Nolan if they thought he used reasonable force to defend himself from attack.

Mr Nolan, from Stonehaven Drive, Fearnhead, was cleared after the jury deliberated for a matter of minutes.