An Ipswich man accused of hitting his partner’s ex-boyfriend in the face with a spanner has been cleared by a jury.

Before Ipswich Crown Court was Calvin Watchman, 43, of no fixed address, who had denied assaulting Shane Boyes causing him actual bodily harm and having an offensive weapon in April 2016.

He was found not guilty of both charges after a trial which started earlier this week.

Giving evidence, Watchman said his girlfriend Iyesha Spencer had been upset about messages she had received from Mr Boyes, who was her former partner, and he had gone with her to his home in Hossack Road.

“I thought she was going to have a go at him at the door and that would be it,” said Watchman.

He had stayed on the pavement while Miss Spencer knocked at the door and he had then heard her shouting and saw her punch Mr Boyes while he was standing on the doorstep.

Watchman said that when Mr Boyes’ mother came out, Miss Spencer started swinging punches at her and he had pulled her away.

Watchman claimed Mr Boyes had then come over and punched him and he had walked away from the property leaving Miss Spencer in the garden throwing punches at Mrs Boyes.

As he walked away he claimed that Mr Boyes picked up a bottle of whisky, which had been in a carrier bag belonging to Miss Spencer, and had swung it at him, causing a lump and a cut to the back of his head.

He tried to restrain Mr Boyes and when they fell to the ground he claimed that Miss Spencer hit Mr Boyes with the bottle.

He denied having a spanner and hitting Mr Boyes with it during the alleged incident.

Charles Kellett, prosecuting, told the court that as a result of the alleged incident Mr Boyes thought he may have briefly lost consciousness and had suffered cuts, bruising and swelling to his face.

The court heard there had been ill feeling between Mr Boyes and Miss Spencer since the breakdown of their relationship.

The court heard that Miss Spencer has admitted assaulting Mr Boyes.