A TEENAGER punched a Selby nightclubber "in self-defence", a few weeks after the club-goer's father had smashed up the youth's car with a metal bar, a court heard.

Liam Olsson had to have two metal plates inserted in his jaw after being attacked by Jonathan James Sandham in a car park on June 25.

But a jury at York Crown Court cleared Mr Sandham, 19, of York Road, Barlby, of causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Olsson, after hearing evidence from both men and seeing CCTV pictures of an incident outside Kans nightclub, and other footage involving the two men.

Mr Sandham, pictured, claimed the incidents came two or three weeks after Mr Olsson's father, Michael, had attacked his car with a metal bar.

Before that incident, Mr Sandham said he had been driving behind Liam Olsson, who had been moving very slowly and repeatedly swerved to stop him overtaking.

Shortly afterwards, Liam Olsson's car blocked Mr Sandham in and Michael Olsson got out and launched a road rage attack on the vehicle.

On June 25, the pair had spotted each other inside the nightclub in Selby's Market Place.

Liam Olsson claimed Mr Sandham began following him around the venue. After he left the nightclub - at a doorman's request - and went to another bar in the town, Mr Sandham approached him and said: "Let's get this sorted out right now."

Liam Olsson said he walked away to get a taxi, but Mr Sandham followed him and they fought near a park. During the fight, Mr Sandham kicked Liam Olsson and broke his jaw.

But Mr Sandham claimed Mr Olsson had "hassled" him in the nightclub, and when he left, Mr Olsson was standing in a taxi queue nearby.

Despite his attempts to avoid trouble, Mr Olsson had hit him three or four times in the face, knocking him to the ground.

Fearing Mr Olsson's friends were about to join in, Mr Sandham said he punched Mr Olsson in the face in self-defence, but did not kick him.

Mr Sandham said the scuffle was then broken up and he had walked away from Mr Olsson.

Updated: 09:43 Monday, May 08, 2006