By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 12:40, Friday, 26 October 2012

A young woman wept after a jury cleared her of biting a man and then hitting him over the head with a bottle.

Related: Woman gives evidence in bottle attack trial

Zara Peel, 22, had always denied attacking Lee Ellwood during a heated row over a mobile phone call.

At Carlisle Crown Court, the prosecution claimed she had smashed Mr Ellwood’s phone and then subjected him to violence while they were in a flat in Workington.

But after hearing evidence during the trial, the jury took less than an hour to declare her not guilty to the three charges she faced – wounding with intent, unlawful wounding and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Speaking after the case, Miss Peel, of Moorlands, Little Clifton, near Workington, said: “This has been going on for 12 months and it’s been hugely stressful for everybody in my life. But I want to thank my defence team: the barrister Elizabeth Muir was absolutely fantastic.”

Miss Peel’s partner Ritchie Edgar, 25, added: “The case has had a bad effect on Zara: she hasn’t been able to sleep. I’ve never seen her like this.”

The prosecution had claimed a row broke out after Mr Ellwood ignored a call to his mobile phone.

The two – who at the time were friends – were in a flat in Fisher Street with two other people and all had been drinking, the court heard.

The most dramatic claim was that she had smashed a vodka bottle over Mr Ellwood’s head during the row.

Asked about previous convictions which she has, Miss Peel told the court: “I got in with the wrong crowd but I’ve always pleaded guilty to the things I’ve done.”

Miss Peel said that all the allegations made against her had been made up.

First published at 12:04, Friday, 26 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk