A Christmas party goer has been cleared of glassing a stranger in a crowded nightclub after telling a jury he was acting in self defence.

Craig Lamble was found not guilty at Exeter Crown Court after saying he had acted instinctively by raising his hand when he was threatened by a group of larger men.

He said he did not realise he had the glass in his hand and had no intention of hurting victim Simon Ablett, who needed stitches in a deep wound to his left temple.

The incident happened at Bar 7 in Newton Abbot at 1.40 am on Saturday December 23, 2017 and was filmed by the club’s CCTV system. Lamble was identifiable because he wore a distinctive Christmas jumper.

It showed Mr Ablett appearing to be acting as peacemaker between Lamble and a group of men in a corridor leading to the smoking area before being hit by the glass.

Lamble was acquitted after telling the jury he thought he was about to be beaten up by a group of six to eight men, including Mr Ablett, after jostling in a doorway.

He said they had threatened to smash his face in and break his legs and he put his hand up in self-defence.

Lamble, aged 31, of Dandelion Close, Highweek, Newton Abbot, denied unlawful wounding and was found not guilty. He sobbed after they reached their verdict.

During a three day case, the prosecution said the CCTV showed Mr Ablett trying to separate Lamble from other men when he was hit in the face by the glass."

Lamble told the jury he thought he was about to be beaten up by a group of six to eight men, including Mr Ablett, who confronted him in a corridor leading from the smoking area to the dance floor.

He said:"I was acting in self defence. They said they would break my legs and break my glasses and smash my face in. There were to six to eight of them in the altercation.

"I thought it was a bit handbaggy and playgroundy at first but Mr Ablett was part of a group who were intimidating me and threatening to give me a hiding.

"I had no intention to hit him with the glass. I reacted instinctively and did not realise I had the glass when I swung my hand."