Telford man, 26, cleared of assaulting woman
A man has been cleared by a jury of squeezing a woman's neck during a row at a Telford property.
Jack Rayson, 26, was acquitted of one charge of common assault on June 14 last year.
The trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that the alleged victim had lied to the police about her contact with the defendant after his arrest and subsequent recall to prison following an incident at the property.
The jury heard evidence that she had sent numerous romantic messages to the defendant and put credit on his mobile phone when he was locked up so they could communicate.
Giving evidence in the witness box the woman told the jury she was telling the truth about what happened at the address and had been confused when she contacted to the defendant following his arrest.
Cross-examining her, defence barrister Mr Paul Smith put to her: "The story about him strangling you is made up isn't it?"
The woman replied: "No it isn't."
But the jury didn't believe her version of events and found the defendant not guilty. Rayson, who had previous convictions, did not give evidence in the trial.
Mr Smith said he had been on licence for previous offences when he was arrested in June and remains in prison.
He previously pleaded guilty before magistrates to criminal damage relating to him kicking a letterbox and punching a hole in a door, and pleaded guilty to sending malicious communications relating to text messages sent to the same woman.
Rayson, of Chiltern Gardens, Dawley, will be sentenced for those matters on March 4.
