A 51-YEAR-OLD man has been cleared of joining in an attack which left a man unconscious in his local pub.
David Holmes was found not guilty of affray, an alternative allegation of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and assault causing actual bodily harm.
The defendant, of Venice Avenue, Burnley, denied the charges throughout the trial at Burnley Crown Court.
His co-defendant Keith Spriggs, 40, of Nairne Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour and assault causing actual bodily harm.
He was bailed to March 14 for a pre-sentence report and warned not to contact witnesses and banned from going into the Angel pub, Accrington Road, Burnley.
The jury heard David Benson was attacked in the Angel, his local, last May. He was set upon by Spriggs and Holmes was alleged to have joined in. Both men were said to have kicked and punched the victim, who was knocked out.
Holmes told police Spriggs had gone over to Mr Benson and the next thing he heard was scuffling. Mr Benson was on the floor and he had tried to drag people apart. He denied at any stage using any violence.
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