brutal assault on his ex-girlfriend.

Self-employed painter Lucas Spence was congratulated by friends after Acting Magistrate the Wor. Kenneth Brown found him not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to former girlfriend Sharon Davis.

Defence lawyer Peter Farge said after the hearing at Magistrates' Court: "I have no doubt it was the correct verdict. The decision was justified and fair and we are very pleased with the result.'' Spence, West Avenue, Southampton, was accused of beating complainant Sharon Davis repeatedly with an metal bar at his home on October 7 last year.

The prosecution claimed he launched a vicious attack on Davis when she went to his home to collect money owed to her.

But Mr. Farge argued that Davis -- who had previously stabbed his client with a pair of scissors -- went for Spence with a knife, who used the metal bar to defend himself.

The court heard that Davis, an executive secretary with the Bermuda Government, spent several days in hospital with injuries sustained in the incident, including a broken arm, and still suffers side-effects from the blows.

Mr. Brown said that to secure a conviction, Spence's guilt had to be proved beyond reasonable doubt.'' He added: "This has not been an easy matter to resolve and it has not been clear-cut.

"Even if I have my doubts on the evidence and accept that the defendant was in a self-defence situation, I have to judge what is reasonable force.

"The defendant is much smaller than the complainant, although I accept he may be of equal strength. I have some doubt as to his guilt -- this doubt is more than minimal, so accordingly, I find him not guilty.''