A 25-YEAR-old woman said to have "bottled" a man, slashing his throat, after he owed her cash, has been cleared.

Kate Ranyard was found not guilty of unlawful wounding, after a three-day trial at Burnley Crown Court. The defendant, of Colne Road, Burnley, who denied the allegation, was discharged from the dock by Recorder Andrew Lowcock.

The jury had heard claims by the alleged victim that Ranyard and a friend, who he had also borrowed money from, were screaming and shouting and wanting paying back when they turned up at the house he was lodging at in Darwen.

Mr Stephen Walls said as the pair were going to leave, the defendant turned round and he thought he was going to get a slap. He moved and felt something smash on his chin. His throat had been cut an inch from the jugular vein and he was taken to hospital, where he had to have 10 stitches.

Ranyard's barrister David James told the jury Mr Walls had got angry and made an aggressive movement towards her. She then lifted up her arms and the complainant got cut.

Mr Walls admitted he had had beer and amphetamine before the incident and Mr James suggested he could not be sure of what happened or how it occurred because his recollection was affected by the alcohol and drugs.