An Oxford scaffolder has been found not guilty of a racist attack on an Asian man who has been banned from every pub in Kidlington.

Scott Roger, 19, of Green Road, Headington, admitted causing grievous bodily harm but denied the assault was racially aggravated at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, May 1.

Kern Tutty, 19, of Knolles Road, Cowley, also admitted causing grievous bodily harm after the prosecution dropped a charge of racially aggravated assault against him. Vijay Kumar Sarbatta was knocked unconscious in the attack in George Street, Oxford, in Spetember last year.

Mr Sarbatta, 22, alleged Roger had called him "a Paki" during the attack.

Nigel Daly, defending, said Roger had many Asian friends and read a character reference from Mumtaz Fareed, chairman of the Oxford Asian Cultural Association. Mr Fareed said: "Scott and his family have always been fair to members of the diverse communities of Oxford."

The defence claimed Mr Sarbatta, of Kidlington, was a bully who had fallen out with Roger over a girl, and Roger had been forced to leave Kidlington.

Dc Paul Sexton, of Thames Valley Police, said Mr Sarbatta had been banned from every pub in Kidlington after a fight at The Black Horse pub in the village.