A CRUISE ship passenger accused of knocking out two elderly holidaymakers spoke of his relief after a jury cleared him of ambushing the frail couple outside their cabin.

Burley gas worker Graeme Finlay, 53, was said to have left a 70-year-old grandfather with a deep gash to his forehead and his 68-year-old wife with two fractured vertebra.

The Scotsman was alleged to have pummelled the couple because he felt he had been snubbed by them at their dinner table on board the Thomson Celebration.

Mr Finlay claimed he had been sworn at and attacked by the man after he asked for an apology for being ignored when he sat down next to them for an evening meal.

He told a Teesside Crown Court jury that the retired engineer and ex-pub landlord struck him in the face with his crutch before he shoved out in self-defence.

After being acquitted of inflicting grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding, ex-naval serviceman Mr Finlay said: "It's been hell. It's put me off boats forever."

He told how he had put on five stone comfort eating since his arrest 18 months ago, and added: "I'm really delighted with the verdicts and very, very relieved."

He said: It's been very very stressful for the last year and a half. I go to church and I'm on the golf club committee, and it's been awful seeing my face in the news.

"I'm very sorry about everything that happened, but I told the truth and I'm thankful that the jury believed me."

The jury of nine women and three men took less than an hour today to return their unanimous verdicts.