An Ipswich man accused of causing a man’s nose to “explode” when he allegedly punched him in the face in an alley outside an Ipswich nightclub has been found not guilty after a judge stopped the case against him.

Rhys Wilson, 22, of Bond Street, Ipswich, had denied inflicting grievous bodily harm on Daniel Burton with Torron Lambe and another man last June and told police he had no reason to assault Mr Burton as he had not done anything to him.

During Wilson’s retrial Ipswich Crown Court heard that Lambe, 22, of Beatty Road, Ipswich, admitted the charge and also admitted assaulting one of Mr Burton’s friends.

Mr Burton claimed he was being held down on the ground in an alley near Liquid nightclub by Lambe when he was allegedly punched in the face by Wilson.

Giving evidence he described feeling his nose “explode” and said he was aware of blood coming from his nose and “going everywhere”.

Mr Burton suffered a fractured eye socket, swelling and bruising to his face and body and a deviation to his nasal bone.

Judge David Goodin directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict on Wilson after hearing submissions by defence counsel Ramiz Gursoy at the close of the prosecution case.