A BUSINESSMAN cleared of breaking an opponent’s jaw during a rugby match has spoken of the "difficulties" he faced while awaiting trial for grievous bodily harm.

Speaking shortly after a jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict, Waterloo second team captain Christopher Wolfenden said: "This has been a really difficult 14 months. I am delighted that the jury were able to come to this decision so quickly and clear my name.

"I would like to thank all the people who have supported me throughout the process, the support of those who know me has helped enormously.

"I did feel really upset when I saw the descriptions of the allegation that appeared in the papers at the start of the trial.

"I do hope that people now realise that the version of events reported at the beginning of the trial was not what was accepted by the jury after hearing all the evidence.

"I now simply want to put this whole incident behind me."

The garage proprietor, 40, from Hawthorne Avenue, Burscough, had been accused of "maliciously and illegally" attacking Cheshire player Barry Holmes during a match in September last year, leaving the Irishman in hospital with two metal plates in his face.

Mr Holmes, who was forced to drink creamed rice through a straw after his jaw was cracked on one side and broken on the other, maintained that Mr Wolfenden had lashed out in anger after he was manhandled from a maul.

The jury accepted Mr Wolfenden’s explanation that he was being pulled by his shirt neck and struck without looking when his breathing was cut off.

Waterloo Director of Rugby Steve Moore, a former Welsh international, spoke up for his player.

"From my own point of view when you play rugby you become part of a physical confrontation all the time you are on the pitch.

"And you have to accept that there are times when tensions flare.