A FATHER and son have been cleared of assaulting a man in his own home.

Kenneth and Craig Webster, both of Shirley Road, Droitwich, were found not guilty by Worcester magistrates.

Both men had denied charges of common assault on John Fergus in a domestic incident on Sunday, January 23.

The court heard that Mr Fergus was living with Kenneth Webster's daughter Donna and their eight-month-old baby at the time of the alleged assault.

The father and son had rushed round to Miss Webster's flat after she had phoned them and told them Mr Fergus had slapped her.

In his opening address Peter Parson, prosecuting, alleged the pair had acted "mob-handed" and exacted on Mr Fergus a mixture of "revenge and unreasonable force".

Mr Fergus, a pub manager, said Craig Webster, aged 25, rained punches on his head and neck as he was putting on his shirt.

He also claimed 49-year-old Kenneth Webster struck him in the face.

Both men rejected the claims and said they had merely been "ushering" him out because he had struck 23-year-old Miss Webster.

Dale Sheehan, defending, accused Mr Fergus of "elaboration and fabrication". He said his clients "categorically" denied punching him.

"If they were raining blows down as described you would expect marks," he said.

Miss Webster admitted throwing a bowl of water over Mr Fergus but said he had slapped her twice and called her a "fat, lazy bitch".

Mr Fergus admitted their relationship had had its ups and downs and that it had gone down hill.

Kenneth Webster said they wanted to get Mr Fergus out because "he had a history of being very aggressive when he had been drinking".

"I acted out of concern for my daughter and grandson," said Mr Webster.

Craig Webster said Mr Fergus had pushed him and struggled after he had asked him to leave.

Justices said the father and son had used reasonable force to eject Mr Fergus and dismissed the case.