A 42-YEAR-OLD man has been cleared of attacking a husband and wife and another man in the same night.

David Carrie, who was alleged to have bitten off part of one victim's ear, was found not guilty of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and two charges of witness intimidation, after a three day trial at Burnley Crown Court.

The defendant, of Yates Fold, Blackburn, who was represented by John Woodward, was discharged from the dock by Recorder Heather Lloyd.

He had denied all the allegations.

The jury had heard claims Carrie bit off part of Peter Harrison's ear and ripped it away from the skull.

He was also said to have punched Kathleen Harrison in the mouth and stamped on the head of a man named Malcolm Thomas after he tried to intervene.

The Harrisons were witnesses in a court case involving another man and the prosecution had claimed Carrie assaulted them in a bid to persuade them not to give evidence.

The defendant told police he had nothing to do with the assaults whatsoever.