A MAN accused of carrying out a "vicious attack" in a Cwmbran pub has been cleared of unlawful wounding.

Richard Nodwell, of Green Willows, Oakfield, Cwmbran, was found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Ian Doughty.

The allegations had focused around a fight at the Cwrt Henllys pub on Boxing Night 2014.

A jury at Newport Crown Court unanimously reached the verdict, after Recorder Nicholas Gareth Jones asked them to reach a decision.

During the trial Mr Nodwell, 28, admitted that he had punched, kicked, kneed and headbutted Mr Doughty, causing a fractured cheek bone, eye socket and nose - but only in an effort to defend his brother, Rowan.

The court heard the incident took place following an altercation earlier in the evening between Mr Doughty's teenage son, Ashley, and one of Mr Nodwell's friends.

At 10.45pm, the father and son were joined by other family and friends in returning to the pub to confront those involved and tension boiled over in the foyer.

Ieuan Morris, prosecuting, had alleged that CCTV pictures then showed "a vicious attack, which was very determined and ruthless" by Mr Nodwell on Mr Doughty.

However, Nigel Friar, mitigating, said in his closing statement to the jury: "These are ugly scenes on the CCTV, but self-defence is not about looking at something with hindsight. If we all had the ability to make decision with hindsight we would get it right every time. 

"What we have to do is place ourselves in the position of Mr Nodwell that night."

He added: "You have to make a snap decision in about three seconds - three seconds of Richard Nodwell's life. It was instinctive. 

"He accepts he punched him and headbutted him and kicked him, but just because there are serious injuries doesn't mean it wasn't self-defence.

"This isn't a case of Mr Nodwell going over the top. He reasonably believed he had to use that force."

Mr Morris had also said the attack involved "military precision", which Mr Friar agreed with.

But, he said: "I liken this to a surgical bombstrike, carried out so that nothing was disturbed around it. Mr Nodwell was in control. 

"The threat was neutralised and his job was done so he backed away. It is not attractive but it is self-defence."