A POLICEMAN has walked free from court after a jury found him not guilty of seriously assaulting a town centre drinker.

The jury took just 39 minutes to clear Miles Edwards of the attack on Silverwell Street which began after he intervened during a lovers' tiff.

Lewis Greenwood needed nine stitches to a gash by his eye and suffered bruising to his head.

Mr Edwards, aged 35, of Chorley New Road, Horwich, said he hit the 19-year-old once in self defence after Mr Greenwood became violent towards him when he tried to stop a row between the man and his girlfriend at 1.40am on September 16.

Witnesses, including Mr Greenwood's girlfriend and sister, said they had seen the off-duty policeman punch the victim up to 20 times and kick and stamp on his head.

He denied causing grievous bodily harm and was cleared yesterday at the end of a three-day trial.