Man cleared of stabbing Celtic fan near Downing Street

A man has been cleared of stabbing a football fan in the chest after an altercation near Downing Street.

A jury took less than two hours to find Nicholas Marshall, 20, not guilty of attacking Celtic fan Sean Laverty in Whitehall on 26 August 2009.

Mr Marshall, of Lewisham, south-east London, had denied charges of wounding with intent and unlawful wounding.

Southwark Crown Court heard Mr Laverty had been on a 12-hour drinking session before the Celtic and Arsenal match.

The stabbing pierced his liver and he lost a litre of blood.