Darts champ cleared of punching wife

Former world darts champion Eric Bristow has been cleared of attacking his wife at their home.

Bristow, 48, a five-times world darts champion and MBE, was accused of punching wife Jane in the face during a drunken row at their Staffordshire home in Leek on April 29.

But he was cleared of the charge this afternoon.

Magistrate Eric Bradley told a tearful Bristow: "The allegation of common assault has not been proved to the criminal standard. We therefore find you not guilty."

Speaking after he was cleared, an emotional Bristow said he bore no malice towards wife Jane, 43, and said he just wanted to "get on with my life and look after my kids".

He said of his wife: "She just wanted a divorce. She has got a boyfriend and she just wanted a divorce.

"The kids told me she had a boyfriend 18 months

ago and I did not believe them.

"It has been very emotional for me and the kids and the kids have been very affected by this, they are only 14 and 12.

"My daughter talks to her (Jane) but my son won't.

"He will have to get through that."

Bristow, made an MBE in 1989, described his seven month court ordeal as "hell".

"It has been horrible," he added.

"You are never confident in court cases, you just don't know what is going to happen.

"I would rather play on TV in front of millions than be in there."

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