A MONMOUTH man accused of launching a ferocious attack on his former neighbours in the Forest of Dean with a metal bar has been found not guilty.

44-year-old Gareth Evans, now of Oak Crescent, Monmouth, was unanimously cleared by a jury of attempting to cause Dave Williams grievous bodily harm with intent and of assaulting Emma Williams.

The jury reached their verdicts at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday after two hours of deliberation.

A neighbours dispute at Kidmore Close, Whitecross, came to a head on Sunday 9th August last year, the court was told.

Earlier in the week defence lawyer Matthew Harbison said that prosecution witnesses’ evidence was riddled with contradictions and inconsistencies and the alleged victim’s lack of injuries after allegedly being struck six times over the head and arms with a metal bar and punched in the face was "absolutely absurd."

“There is clearly a background of hostility between the former neighbours but there is no medical evidence to support the contentions and the photographs of Mr Williams are hardly consistent with the alleged attack,” said Mr Harbison in his closing speech.

“The witnesses appear to have been influenced by others in the neighbourhood and it is strange that the supposed metal bar has never been found, despite police officers searching my client’s house afterwards.

”Did the bar ever exist and did this incident ever happen?

“Everybody appears to be saying different things and no jury can be sure enough of my client’s guilt to convict him.”

The prosecution had alleged that Evans stormed into the next-door house armed with a metal pole and attacked a couple in front of their eight-month-old twin daughters.