A MAN who hit a former boxer around the head with a torch walked free from court after a jury failed to return a verdict.

But Daniel McKenzie, 35, of Neyland, who was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, may face a retrial.

The Crown Prosecution Service was granted time to decide whether to press for a second trial.

McKenzie, formerly of College Park, told the jury he had been defending himself.

Lee Taylor, 31, who now teaches youngsters to box, told the court that McKenzie approached him in a pub in Castle Square, Haverfordwest, and asked him to come outside.' Mr Taylor said he was aggressive and that he hit him out of fear of being attacked.

Later, at the town's bus station, McKenzie aggressively approached him a second time and he again struck him in the face.

But McKenzie produced a long handled torch and hit him to the back of the head, causing profuse bleeding.

The incident was caught on CCTV cameras.

McKenzie told the jury he wanted a word with Taylor because his children had complained that Taylor had bullied them.

The second meeting at the bus station was entirely by chance and again he was struck by Taylor when he approached him about the same subject.

He said he struck out with the torch in self defence.