Guest cleared of wedding attack

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A barrister has been cleared of beating up a fellow guest at a wedding after a two-week trial.

Best man Christopher Dunn, of Morley, Leeds, had denied causing grievous bodily harm to David Baird-Dean at the wedding in Pateley Bridge, North Yorks.

He said he hit Mr Baird-Dean in self-defence after being accused of exposing himself to a group of women, including Mr Baird-Dean's wife.

Mr Dunn, 40, was cleared by a jury after a trial at Preston Crown Court.

The former Territorial Army reservist admitted punching Mr Baird-Dean several times but only in self-defence.

Confrontation

The jury took just under six-and-a-half hours to clear Mr Dunn of causing grievous bodily harm and of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Dunn attended the reaffirmation of vows ceremony of friends Russell and Rosalind Poole on 1 July last year.

Following the ceremony the party moved to Harefield Hall Hotel in Pateley Bridge for the reception.

The court heard Mr Dunn became drunk and sat at a table with three female guests.

The conversation became flirtatious and Mr Dunn, who has tattoos on his upper arms and back, was asked whether he had any more personal tattoos by one of the women.

He then flashed part of his pubic area but said he did not expose his genitals.

Metal plates

The court heard Mr Baird-Dean, the husband of one of the women, grabbed Mr Dunn by his waistcoat and confronted him but Mr Dunn defused the situation and apologised.

Several hours later the row between the men flared up again and Mr Baird-Dean was said to have pushed the barrister down a flight of stairs and punched him.

Mr Dunn, who is a qualified jujitsu instructor, struck back.

The lawyer hit Mr Baird-Dean, 48, who suffered severe injuries. Surgeons had to use metal plates and screws to reattach his upper jaw and eye sockets to his skull, the court heard.

The prosecution claimed Mr Dunn had attacked Mr Baird-Dean, sitting astride him and punching him with both fists as he lay unconscious on the floor.

This was denied by Mr Dunn, who also denied exposing himself to the women.