A BEST man has been cleared of attacking a wedding guest who was left with "horrific" injuries - after a jury decided he acted in self defence.

Barrister and ju-jitsu black belt Christopher Dunn had told the court how he threw a flurry of punches to protect himself after Blackburn man David Baird-Dean launched a relentless assault on him.

The prosecution had claimed that Mr Baird-Dean, 48, was beaten for telling the best man off for exposing himself in front of guests and making rude remarks in his speech.

After the case a spokesman for Mr Dunn, who denied he had exposed himself, said he was "relieved" at the outcome and added: "He is looking forward to getting back to his life."

But Mr Baird Dean's family said the injuries he sustained in the incident had left him facing operations to correct his eyesight.

Mr Baird Dean's sister, Wendy Horne, who lives in the Griffin area of Blackburn, said: "It's ruined his life."

Mr Dunn, 40, denied grievous bodily harm with intent and an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

The incident happened at the Harefield Hall hotel in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire, last summer.

The reception followed a church service for friends of both men, who had been renewing their wedding vows after ten years of marriage.

The jury at Preston Crown Court was told that Mr Baird-Dean suffered car crash type facial injuries that required reconstructive surgery following events, in July.

But the bride Rosalind Poole told the trial that the barrister was a "lovely man, very kind" and that his best man's speech had been typical and funny, making everyone laugh.

Mr Dunn accepted he had thrown a flurry of punches out of fear - two of which he said connected.

Mr Dunn, of Morley, Leeds, told the jury: "I was terrified he would knock me out with a lucky punch and go to town. He was very strong for a smaller bloke. He had no trouble in manhandling me."

The jury took almost six and a half hours before returning the not guilty verdicts.

After the case, Mrs Horne added: "The surgeons have told my brother he has brain damage but they don't know to what extent.

"He is still waiting for an operation which involves his eye being taken out and re-aligning the socket because he's only got tunnel vision at the moment.

"He's gone from a well paid job as a mechanic to having to rely on his wife.

"He has done a bit of gardening for a friend but he hasn't been able to go back to work. It's devastated the family. He didn't want to press charges but the police said because of the severity of his injuries they were going to prosecute.

"It's been a stressful time so we sent him away to clear his head for a few days to get away from it all."