Maidstone crown court, where Ludlow was acquitted

by Keith Hunt

A man has been acquitted of a serious assault charge during a confrontation in the street.

James Ludlow was alleged to have headbutted and punched Thomas Scully, fracturing his jaw in March last year.

But a jury found the 22-year-old, of Temeraire Manor, Brompton, not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Scully was walking home from the Spyglass and Kettle pub in Wigmore when he suffered the injury.

Prosecutor Trevor Wright said there was a history between the two men. Two years previously Mr Scully had been in a relationship with Marie Hart, who then dated Mr Ludlow.

Mr Scully was at the junction with Swain Road and Hoath Lane when he heard someone calling.

He looked around and saw it was Mr Ludlow, who commented on "apparent" contact between Mr Scully and Miss Hart five months earlier.

Mr Ludlow was alleged to have launched the attack, before getting into the passenger seat of a waiting car and being driven away.

He denied the charge and claimed Mr Scully mouthed a derogatory word at him as he and his friend drove past the junction.

He said Mr Scully swung a punch, missed, and then swung again, giving him a fat lip. He claimed he acted in self-defence by punching Mr Scully once in the face. He denied headbutting him.