A teenager who stabbed a Kidderminster policeman has been cleared of intending to cause him serious injury.

Rejected Eoin Bellison had gone to his ex-girlfriend's house to apologise for pestering her.

But when her family alerted police, he was involved in a scuffle in which PC Malcolm Palmer was stabbed in the abdomen with a lock knife.

Bellison, 19, of Clarence Court, Kidderminster, was cleared by a jury at Worcester Crown Court of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He had previously pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding the officer and was remanded in custody for a pre-sentence report.

Recorder Michael Keehan QC told him that despite his previous good character, custody was the likely outcome.

Lovesick Bellison was arrested outside the home of Natalie Richards in Stewart Court, Kidderminster.

He told the jury he was "totally devastated" when his relationship with Natalie broke down and pestered her in a bid to resume their romance.

On the eve of the stabbing, he had drunk eight pints of stout in a pub before going home. He started thinking about Natalie and decided to phone her in the early hours to apologise for pestering her.

The credit on his mobile phone ran out so he went to her home.

When police arrived, he lost his head and tried to kick out the lights of their patrol car.

He was disorientated when CS gas was sprayed in his face and could not remember why he had the knife in his hand. He told his counsel, Nigel Stelling, he had not intended to attack anyone.

Arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, he was shocked. He said: "I'm sorry it happened. It was madness."