A MAN accused of wounding his friend of 20 years by hitting him in the face with a pool cue was cleared by a jury yesterday.

John Cant, from Shildon, was accused of wounding Darren Taylor with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, when he hit him with the cue in the Royal George pub, in Shildon, on December 13 last year.

A jury at Teesside Crown Court was told by prosecutor Dan Cordey that Mr Cant, 33, of Ash Grove, had started playing pool with Mr Taylor when, for no reason, he hit him repeatedly in the face with the pool cue.

Mr Taylor was taken to hospital for treatment for several large cuts to his face and head.

However, Mr Cant told the jury he had been acting in self- defence after 6ft 2in Mr Taylor had punched him in the face first.

Mr Cant said he had commiserated with Mr Taylor on the death of his aunt, and it emerged Mr Taylor had no knowledge of her dying.

After telephoning his sister to find out why he had not been told, said Mr Cant, Mr Taylor appeared angry and upset and then punched him in the face.

He said he had raised his hands to defend himself, and at the time was holding the pool cue.

He said that he hit Mr Taylor with the cue twice before he was chased around the pool table.

When Mr Cant found he could not catch Mr Taylor, he threw pool balls at him.

Mr Cant denied a charge of wounding Mr Taylor with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and the jury deliberated for 40 minutes before returning a not guilty verdict on the allegation.

Earlier in the case, Mr Cordey said police had used CS spray to subdue Mr Taylor when they arrived at the pub.

Mr Taylor earlier gave evidence that Mr Cant had attacked him without reason or warning