A motorcyclist has been cleared of attempting to cause an off-duty police officer grievous bodily harm after crashing into him.

Adam Ashman was said to have deliberately sped the dirtbike towards Marc Root, while performing a wheelie, in Cornwallis Avenue, Folkestone.

But 12 jurors unanimously ruled the 26-year-old was not guilty today following a trial this week at Canterbury Crown Court.

Ashman, of Folkestone, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to dangerous driving and the lesser charge of causing PC Marc Root actual bodily harm.

Jurors heard Ashman aimed his bike in Mr Root’s direction during a row, and began to rev the engine.

“Marc Root and the defendant didn't know each other, and the prosecution’s case is this was an incident where essentially a red mist came over the defendant in a moment of rage,” prosecutor Shannon Revel argued.

She explained it was the prosecution’s job to prove Ashman “intended to cause Mr Root really serious harm.”

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The pair clashed following an altercation in the street, the court heard.

Giving evidence, Mr Root, who suffered a sprained ankle after the incident, told the jury: “My split second reaction was maybe that he was trying to intimidate me, maybe he would brake, maybe he would divert his course.”

Asked how he reacted, Mr Root replied: “I didn’t have time to move, I realised he was going to collide with me and so I lifted my right leg up to try and potentially lessen the impact, the motorcycle then connected with the sole of my right foot.

“The connection was sufficient to spin me around onto the floor - the first I’d realised I was on my back facing the other way.”

But jurors acquitted Ashman, of Morehall Avenue, after deliberating for two hours and thirty minutes.

Represented by Gerard Pitt, Ashman, who pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and otherwise in accordance with a licence after the trial, was granted conditional bail and will be sentenced in August.