A MOTORIST has been cleared by a jury of reversing his car at speed and dragging a man along the road.

Stuart Bentley had denied the offence and said he had been trying to escape from his partner's brother Paul Molyneux at the time.

Mr Molyneux claimed he had been dragged backwards injuring his back and head as he tried to get into the car.

Bentley, aged 26, of Sloane Street, in Bolton, was acquitted by a jury yesterday following his trial at Bolton Crown Court.

He had denied assaulting Mr Molyneux, occasioning him actual bodily harm and dangerous driving on June 23 last year during the incident in Park Street, Bolton.

Mr Molyneux's sister Karen said Mr Molyneux had become angry and became abusive to her when she did not give him a small bottle of beer. This followed a day out at Horwich Carnival, Rivington and Blackpool.

Earlier in the trial, Mr Molyneux agreed that he had been known as the black sheep of the family and had not spoken to members of his family for some time.

He denied that he got drunk and said that he did not have a drink problem but admitted that the previous trial had been adjourned because he had a drink at lunchtime.