A MAN accused of breaking into a Redditch flat and attacking the occupant has been cleared by a jury at Worcester Crown Court.

Mark Tongue denied burglary at Andrew Beale's home in Mount Pleasant and assaulting him, causing actual bodily harm.

He insisted he was at a party with his bride-to-be at the time of the violence, although he accepted there was a long-standing grudge between himself and the victim.

Mr Tongue, aged 21, of Hazel Road, Batchley, was found not guilty of both offences after the jury had retired for only 30 minutes.

Ian Ball, prosecuting, told the court Mr Beale went to bed early after drinking about four pints of beer on July 20 last year.

He was woken up around 11.30pm by four men breaking into his home and claimed one of them was the defendant.

The next thing he recalled was waking up in hospital, having been battered unconscious.

He suffered a broken jaw and cuts and bruises.

Mr Beale explained to police there was no love lost between him and Mr Tongue, whom he criticised for a relationship with his sister in 1999.

But Mr Tongue maintained he had an alibi for the break-in. His barrister, Martin Butterworth, said he was not the only man who disliked the victim.

Earlier the same night, Mr Beale had punched another man in the street after he annoyed him in a pub, the jury heard.