NEALE-Wade Community College teaching assistant Rebecca Stanyon has been found not guilty of assaulting a woman at Minstrelz night club in March. Alleged victim Louise Fitzjohn believed she was glassed by Stanyon during a fracas in the ladies toilets, l

NEALE-Wade Community College teaching assistant Rebecca Stanyon has been found not guilty of assaulting a woman at Minstrelz night club in March.

Alleged victim Louise Fitzjohn believed she was "glassed" by Stanyon during a fracas in the ladies toilets, leaving her with a cut to the face and a black eye.

But Stanyon told Fenland magistrates that Miss Fitzjohn had been the aggressor, and she had been defending herself when visiting the club on the night of her sister's wedding.

"I don't fight anyone; this job I have, I love it," she said. "I am good at it, I would never jeopardise it. I did a year's volunteering to get a foot in the door."

Stanyon said she worked in a unit at the school that deals with children who are referred with behavioural issues or special needs.

Louise Fitzjohn said she had intervened when Stanyon "had a go" at her friend Emily Brown, accusing her spreading false rumours about her being pregnant.

She said Stanyon pushed her on the shoulder, and she pushed her back. She found herself on the floor surrounded by glass, and was punched and kicked.

"I think I must have blacked out when the glass hit me," she said.

But Stanyon said: "The first physical contact was when Louise Fitzjohn swung for me and grabbed my hair and we fell. I was trying to get her off me."

She had taken her drink into the toilets, and it was still there after the incident.

Stanyon said her blouse was ripped during the incident, and she suffered scratches on her stomach, arms, and legs.

"Louise Fitzjohn was the aggressor and instigated the incident," said Tim Williams, defending. "The injuries suffered by Louise Fitzjohn were accidental, as a result of Rebecca Stanyon acting in self defence.

"Louise Fitzjohn says she believes she was glassed by Rebecca Stanyon. That is clearly not what happened on any account."

Finding Stanyon not guilty, magistrates chairman Peter Waterfield said there were serious inconsistencies in the evidence heard by the court.