A 23-year-old fence erector has been cleared at Worcester Crown Court of an attack in a Kidderminster wine bar which left a youth with a fractured skull.

Paul Smith, known as Tommy, had denied inflicting grievous bodily harm on Michael Bowen and taking part in an affray.

The prosecution alleged Smith had struck Mr Bowen with a pool cue in Tico's, Blackwell Street, on the night of June 30, 2001. Mr Bowen lost the power of speech for a week and had stitches in his head wound.

Smith, of Goldthorn Road, Kidderminster, told the court that he had gone for a quiet drink with his girlfriend Tina Banner. They had gone to the Musketeer pub and Dexter's wine bar before arriving at Tico's for a game of pool.

When he went upstairs to the pool room, a crowd of youths started shouting abuse at him. One of them advanced with his hands up.

"I thought he was going to hit me so I punched him in the face," said Mr Smith.

"Then someone hit me and I went down on the floor. I don't know who it was. I was injured in the eye area. Next thing I remember was getting up plastered in blood and there was no one else in the room."

He denied using a pool cue as a weapon.

Tina Banner, who said she no longer lived with Mr Smith, described him as "shy and quiet" who would walk away if anyone started an argument. Drink did not make him aggressive but made him want to sleep.