A 37-YEAR-OLD Tredegar man was cleared at Cardiff crown court of allegations that he attacked a pub customer in a lavatory.

Complainant Mark Evans, 27, had a fractured eye socket and cuts which required six stitches.

Lee Warwick of Rawlingson Terrace, Tredegar, denied striking him and said "It's quite possible he injured himself before I even went to the toilet."

The jury found him not guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor John Probert had said that on February 11, Mr Evans went to the Railway Hotel, Crumlin.

Mr Warwick was also there. When in the lavatory, Mr Evans was pulled from behind and struck to the side of the face. He fell to the floor and was struck again.

There was blood everywhere, said Mr Probert.

After the incident the licensee asked who had struck Mr Evans and it was claimed that Mr Warwick said he had done that because Mr Evans "jumped on his back."

Mr Warwick told the jury that in the toilet he felt a movement behind him and someone grabbed him around the neck and "down by my bottom bit."

He added "I struggled, I panicked because I thought I was being attacked. I didn't see the other person and I didn't throw any direct punches."

He denied having blood on his hands.