A ROUGH sleeper has been cleared of punching two women out celebrating a hen party but convicted of breaching a criminal behaviour order.

Ngozi Godwell, 52, of no fixed abode, had always denied two counts of assault by beating and attacking the bride-to-be and her sister-in-law at St Aldate's, Oxford, in the early hours of April 13.

Taking to the witness box at Oxford Crown Court last week she claimed the hens had 'spat' at her and that she had been kicked before she was later arrested.

Godwell told jurors: "She spat on my face three or four times. My instinct was that I wanted to do the same thing back but I thought that is lowering myself to her.

"[Then] she kicked me, the one wearing the tiara on her head. She kicked me on my leg, I felt like on my knee, I could not tell which one.

"She did it hard."

Jurors took eight hours and 19 minutes to find her not guilty yesterday on two counts of assault and guilty by a majority verdict of breaching the order.

The criminal behaviour order was first imposed by Northampton Magistrates' Court on May 9.

Godwell breached the order by using threatening, abusive and intimidating words and behaviour, the jury panel concluded by handing down their verdict.

The matter was adjourned yesterday until Monday in order for Godwell - who represented herself throughout the trial, to secure legal representation.

A sentencing date will be set following that hearing.