Actor and former footballer Vinnie Jones has been acquitted of assaulting a man during a bar brawl in South Dakota.
The former Wimbledon and Wales soccer hard man was accused of hitting Juan Trevino-Barrera three times in the head during what US prosecutors alleged was an unprovoked attack last December.
But during a one-day trial, Jones, 44, successfully argued he was acting out of self defence, having earlier been struck in the face with a beer glass by one of Mr Trevino-Barrera's friends.
The incident took place on December 4. Jones had travelled to Sioux Falls from his LA base to hunt pheasants with friends. The Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor went to Wiley's Tavern with the hunting party on the night of his arrival.
A row over an LA Dodgers hat Jones was wearing led to a man spitting on Jones and another hitting him in the face with a beer mug.
The former footballer told the court he wanted to leave, but the bar manager walked him to toilets to clean up his cuts. As he did so, Jones encountered Mr Trevino-Barrera in the hallway and was asked: "Have you had enough old man?"
The 44-year-old said he was convinced Mr Trevino-Barrera was going to hit him with a glass he was holding in his left hand and it was at this point that he lunged out. Jones said he was "driven by fear" and was acting in self defence.
Following the fight, the Los Angeles-based star was taken to hospital, where he received 70 stitches. His nose was "hanging off" after the glass attack, the court heard.
Under questioning in court, Mr Trevino-Barrera said he had signed a contract to sell his story to a tabloid newspaper.
It took jurors two hours to find Jones not guilty of all charges.
