A MAN has been found not guilty of carrying out an attack with a knuckleduster in Weymouth town centre.

Daniel Ford, of Victoria Road, Portland, was cleared of a charge of possessing an offensive weapon, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating following a trial at Dorchester Crown Court.

The 22-year-old denied assaulting Liam Bailey and Jack Comben after they left Rendezvous with friends.

He was accused of using a knuckleduster in the attack on the harbourside at around 3am on Sunday, September 11 last year.

Mr Ford admitted punching the two men but said he was acting in self-defence and that he did not have a weapon.

He said: “I was scared, there were about five men around me and I thought they were going to kick my head in.

“Jack Comben grabbed my shirt and started punching me in the back of the head.

“I was getting hit from every direction and I started swinging back, if I hit someone it’s because they were hitting me.

“I had my phone in my hand, not a knuckleduster.”

The court was told that Mr Ford sustained cuts to his hands, chin and chest, swelling to the back of his head and headaches as a result of the incident.