Railway worker cleared of football club attack after man suffered fractured jaw

Matthew Owen, of Tasley Close, Bridgnorth, was found not guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Nicholas Fulwell by the unanimous verdict of a jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday.

The 23-year-old had denied attacking Mr Fulwell at AFC Bridgnorth on January 25 last year.

The victim had to have reconstructive surgery on his jaw following the incident, the court had been told during the trial.

Mr Ian Windridge, prosecuting, said a comedy night had been held at the football club followed by a disco.

He said just after midnight there had been an argument between some people on a patio area and Mr Fulwell and his wife, Tina, went outside.

As Mr Fulwell took her by the waist in an attempt to take her away from the commotion, he was punched to the face, the court heard.

He fell to the floor and was helped back to the function room.

Mr Fulwell went home with his wife but later went to hospital where he was given an X-ray that revealed a fracture to both his lower jaw bones.

Police launched an investigation and interviewed 23-year-old Owen, who denied he had punched Mr Fulwell.

Owen, a railway worker, told the court that although he had been at the club on the night and on the patio at the time, he did not know Mr Fulwell and had not assaulted anyone.

He said he had not thought anything else about the night until he was contacted by police in June. He was picked out in a line-up of police photographs by landlord of the football club Mark Clyde as the man who had assaulted Mr Fulwell, but maintained throughout interviews that Mr Clyde was mistaken.

Giving evidence during the the trial, Mr Fulwell told the court he had been dancing with his wife when he heard a bang and the lights came on. He said he noticed his wife go outside and followed her.

He heard some commotion and saw his wife bending over.

Mr Fulwell told the court: "I went to pull her away. I didn't want her anywhere near the action which was going on.

"I don't remember anything else. Next thing I woke up and I could remember somebody taking me back to the seat inside.

"I just remember a cold, wet floor and the next thing I was being lifted back into the football club."

He told the jury he did not see who punched him, but added: "I've never felt so much pain in all my life."

He said he later went to hospital and had to have his jaw reconstructed in an operation where three titanium plates were fitted.