A FOOTBALL fan was cleared yesterday of throwing a bottle at a police dog.

Durham Crown Court had been told that 25-year-old Warwick Page, of Silksworth, Sunderland, was in a crowd of rival fans who police were trying to keep apart shortly before a match.

The bottle was among a number of missiles, including bricks, thrown as police tried to usher a group of Newcastle fans from Sunderland railway station to the Stadium of Light for last April's Wear/Tyne Premiership derby.

The court heard that the flashpoint came as officers tried to escort the United fans across Wearmouth Bridge, 20 minutes before kick-off.

Alex Burns, prosecuting, said an officer pinpointed Mr Page from among about 100 people as having thrown the bottle. He was arrested and charged with affray.

Mr Page, of previous good character, denied the charge and on the second day of the trial yesterday, he was formally found not guilty by the jury, on the judge's directions.

Judge Peter Armstrong made the direction after deliberation with Mr Burns and defending barrister Roger Elsey.

He agreed that, given the number of people involved, the officer's "fleeting glance" identification could not be safely relied upon, as others were dressed similarly to Mr Page.

"When a case depends solely on identification evidence, and what we call 'fleeting glance' evidence, I have to look to see if there's any supporting evidence," he said.

"In my view, in this case, there's no supporting evidence as to the correctness of the identification."

He told the jury: "Therefore, I am required, by law, to withdraw the case from you."

But he said: "The officer could very well be right, and it is no reflection on the police."

He awarded defence costs to Mr Page.