A man has walked free after he was cleared of committing a serious assault on his neighbour at flats in Medway.

Sean Wallace was alleged to have left John Morgan with a broken ankle and other injuries during an attack in the street.

But a jury took just 75 minutes to clear him on Thursday of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The eight women and four men had been directed by the judge to find him not guilty of the more serious offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Maidstone Crown Court heard there had been a long running dispute between the neighbours at Temeraire Manor in Middle Street, Brompton.

“I was in shock that I was being accused of something, and I am still to this day. I was the one assaulted” - Mr Wallace

Mr Wallace, 56, repeatedly complained for five years to the local authority and police about Mr Morgan and his wife Brenda Brooks-Morgan about various matters including noise and damage.

Mr Morgan, who suffers from osteoporosis, claimed the accusations were groundless and “sinister harassment” by Mr Wallace.

Mrs Brooks-Morgan, 64, said she felt persecuted by Mr Wallace and was horrified about his complaints.

Matters came to a head on September 16, 2014, when Mr Morgan and Mr Wallace were with their wives in their cars in Middle Street about to drive onto a roundabout near the entrance to the Historic Dockyard.

Mr Morgan’s Ford Focus was behind Mr Wallace’s BMW. They got out of their cars after Mr Morgan gestured at Mr Wallace to ask why he was not moving.

He claimed Mr Wallace removed his glasses, handed them to his wife and then lashed out at him. He also claimed Mr Wallace kicked him and stamped on him.

Mr Morgan had surgery on his ankle, which was fractured in three places. He also had an MRI scan for suspected bleeding on the brain.

He denied attacking Mr Wallace, adding: “I was barely able to defend myself.”

Mr Wallace, who denied both charges, maintained he had not let his frustrations boil over about the long-standing dispute - and claimed he was the one who was assaulted.

He liked to keep the peace, he said, and believed he was the victim.

Questioned by prosecutor Robert Brown, Mr Wallace said he was stunned to be accused of attacking Mr Morgan.

“I was in shock that I was being accused of something, and (I am) still to this day,” he said. “I was the one assaulted.”

He maintained he had not launched an unprovoked attack on Mr Morgan. “I try to keep matters nice and calm,” he said.

His main concern was for his wife who was in poor health and in constant pain. He was driving her to hospital at the time of the alleged attack.

He said of the allegation he punched and kicked Mr Morgan and stamped on him: “Absolutely not.”

Judge Jeremy Carey told jurors after the verdict: “One understands entirely how you have come to the conclusion you have.”

He added: “It had depressingly familiar aspects to it which one hopes will be brought to an end by the parties now.”