A MAN accused of attacking two people outside a Nelson home has been cleared by a jury.

Keith Delaney, 29, had told Preston Crown Court he had merely stepped in to halt a fight. The jury acquitted him of two accusations of actual bodily harm assault, which he denied.

Delaney, who was living across the road from the house in Pine Street, Nelson, in June last year, told the court he used the surname Traill.

It was alleged he became involved in a violent incident when Angus Gibson and Christopher Grady were attacked one night.

Giving evidence, Delaney was asked by his barrister Tim Ashmole if he had been part of a group who savagely beat Mr Gibson for no reason. Delaney replied: "No, I'm not that kind of lad."

He told the court that although he had convictions for burglary and theft, he had never committed any offences of violence.

He said he had seen eight, or nine, people outside a neighbour's house that night. He went on to see about five, or six, lads congregated outside Mr Gibson's front door.

Then he saw someone go towards the chest of Mr Gibson, who tried to push that person away. Delaney said: "All the lads just jumped on him. They beat him up.

"I realised this guy was getting really beat up. He was going to get hurt. My girlfriend said Keith, go over and try and stop it'.

"I think the drink inside me gave me the bravery to go over and try and help him. I ran forward and pushed the gate open.

"I tried to grab one of the lad's arms who was punching him. He threw a punch at me."

Another man has already admitted assaulting Mr Gibson and is awaiting sentence.