AN osteopath and martial arts boss acquitted of attacking a former patient told of his "absolute relief," that his name had been cleared.

Martin Dixon, 50, said he was thankful the truth had come out and his "nightmare," was over and felt vindicated by the verdict of the jury.

The ju-jitsu expert, who says he is a trainer and coach and not an exponent who fights, said he had been supported by his wife Sheila and family.

He also wanted to thank his martial arts friends and his patients for their support throughout the proceedings which had put a severe strain on his elderly and sick parents.

The father and stepfather of two suffered a dislocated shoulder which led to him having a general anaesthetic, morphine injections and three months off work after a scuffle with a drunken "unknown male," at Checcos Restaurant, Whalley Road, last October.

The man, whose actions were said by the prosecution to have started the trouble, was not called to give evidence as he was not traced by the police.

The crown had alleged Mr Dixon had armed himself with a bar stool and had intended to hit the man but had instead struck Mr Terence Robinson over the head, causing a laceration, after the former patient had intervened.

Mr Dixon said: "There is absolutely no animosity towards Mr Robinson nor his family, but I was very disappointed that I was never able to give my side of the story to them.

"There has been scurrilous accusations made against me and this has been a year of sheer hell."

Mr Dixon left Burnley Crown Court with his delighted wife and family and went straight back to tend his patients at the Hyndburn Private Clinic in Avenue Parade, Accrington, where he is senior partner and where he has practised since 1984. He is chairman of the national governing body for ju-jitsu in this country, teaches black belts from throughout the area at Hyndburn Sports Centre and is also a national coach, trainer and tutor with the National Federation for Personal Safety and Protection.

Mr Dixon, of Delph Mount, Great Harwood, was found not guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm after a four-day trial. He had earlier told the court the man, who had been asleep at a table, had accused him of taking his wallet and had then lunged at him and tried to hit him.

Questioned by his counsel, Eimle Money, Mr Dixon said he had blocked the man's punch and pushed him away with his foot, but the man had hold of his arm and shirt and both hit the floor.

He said he felt intense pain, thought at that point his arm or shoulder was broken and was disorientated and concussed.

Mr Dixon said he tried to crawl away, pulled himself up and when he heard the man shout "I am going to kill him," tried to protect himself and his arm from any further injury. He told the jury he picked up the bar stool to use as a shield, was aware only of the pain in his shoulder and did not know what happened to the stool. It was now clear it had hit Mr Robinson.

Mr Dixon said he had had no intention of hitting or injuring anybody and he had been incapable of attacking anybody.