A MAN had domestic violence allegations against him thrown out after a court decided that he had not attacked his partner.

James Johnston, 27, said the charge of assaulting his ex-partner, Alison Shaw, had blighted his life in the eight months it had been hanging over him.

"It has taken that long for the matter to come to court, which as far as I am concerned is the first time anyone has listened to my side of the story," said Mr Johnston, of Livingston Road, Blackburn. "During that time I have been labelled a wife-beater.

"People I used to socialise with have turned their backs and you can almost hear the whispering behind your back."

While the case has been ongoing Mr Johnston has been prohibited by bail conditions from having any contact with his ex-partner or going near her home.

"I have a 12-month-old son who I barely know because of all this," said Mr Johnston. "I was terrified that a conviction would stop me from seeing my son altogether."

Mr Johnston said that when he was initially arrested he was questioned by police over a 15 hour period.

"It was as if they were trying to get me to admit to something I hadn't done," said Mr Johnston. "As far as they were concerned there had been a complaint, I was guilty and I was going to be charged. They didn't want to hear my side of the story. There is nobody to help people in my position," said Mr Johnston. "There is nobody to give you advice or support and the only friendly face as far as I was concerned was my solicitor, Basharat Ditta.

"I have been found not guilty and it's all over for me but I am sure there are others in a similar position," he added.

Magistrates sitting at Hyndburn, who were specially trained to sit in domestic violence courts, said it was clear that Mr Johnston had not been an aggressor.

"My client's account of events, which he had maintained from the outset, was fully vindicated by the magistrates after they had heard and evaluated the evidence," said Mr Ditta. "Quite rightly, a dim view is taken of domestic violence but I think it is important for everyone concerned to remember there are two sides to every story."

A Crown Prosection Service spokesperson said: "Domestic violence cases are always difficult because they often come down to one word against another.

"The case was considered in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, a public document which explains how our decisions are made.

"The magistrates found that there was a case to answer but at the end of the case decided that there was doubt and acquitted Mr Johnstone."

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: "The gentleman is entitled to make a complaint to the Independe-dent Police Complaints Commission, IPCC."