A FEMALE security guard accused of biting off the tip of a woman's finger in a fight over smoking has been cleared by a jury.
Michala Dawn Rookes, 36, of Milton Street, Saltburn, east Cleveland, denied causing grievous bodily harm to Louise Ann Evans and also denied unlawful wounding.
The jury at Teesside Crown Court took 30 minutes to reach unanimous not guilty verdicts on both charges.
Rod Hunt, prosecuting, told the court Mrs Rookes had bitten the finger of Miss Evans in a Saltburn pizza shop on August 3, leaving the bone crushed. He claimed the incident happened after Mrs Rookes flicked ash into Miss Evans' pizza after she and her husband complained about her smoking.
Mrs Rookes admitted some ash may have gone into the food, but claimed she was attacked by Miss Evans
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