GARRY Tenney s girlfriend had just subjected him to the most violent assault of his life when he pushed her during an argument over his fidelity, he told a court this week. And at and the end of his trial on Thursday, Ely magistrates decided that 27-year-

GARRY Tenney's girlfriend had just subjected him to the most violent assault of his life when he pushed her during an argument over his fidelity, he told a court this week.

And at and the end of his trial on Thursday, Ely magistrates decided that 27-year-old Tenney had acted in self defence, and found him not guilty of two charges of assaulting Jeanette Tuck.

"I was punched, kicked, slapped and scratched," he told the court. "She went ballistic. She was flailing like a windmill."

Tenney had been charged with assaulting Ms Tuck on August 9. She told magistrates that the couple argued over "something silly" and Tenney pushed her, causing her to fall down a step and land on some plastic boxes.

Five days later, she claimed, Tenney said he wanted her to leave their flat. She said he grabbed her wrist, walked towards her with a Samurai sword, and punched her on the arm.

But Tenney, of Orchard Row, Soham, said the argument on August 9 started when Ms Tuck accused him of cheating on her. He agreed he had been unfaithful, although it was not true, and claimed that Ms Tuck had "launched herself at him."

"I have never been assaulted like that in my life," he said. "I had four scratches on the side of my face. I pushed her off me to stop her hitting me. She fell out of the door and fell down the step."

On August 13, Ms Tuck hit him around the head, punched and slapped him, he said.

"I punched her once on the arm to stop her hitting me, I am not proud of it," he said.