A MAN has been acquitted of a string of abuse charges.

Shaun Waters, 31, was on trial for various crimes including assault by penetration, causing actual bodily harm and putting a person in fear of violence.

However, a jury has found him not guilty on all counts against him.

Among the charges against him, Waters had been accused of smashing a motorbike helmet into the face of a woman, burning her clothes and carrying out sexual and physical assaults.

During the trial, which was held at Basildon Crown Court over the space of several days this month, the jury heard evidence from the alleged female victim along with Waters himself.

The woman claimed that Waters had become angry and thrown a motorbike helmet with the intent to injure her face, saying it was “like a slab hitting me”.

She also claimed he threw her to the floor, punched and kicked her, when she was pregnant.

The woman was behind screens to shield her from public view during the trial.

However, Waters refuted all claims by the woman and gave the jury his version of the events, said to have taken place in south Essex over the course of several months earlier this year.

He claimed that he had never meant to throw the motorbike helmet at the woman’s face.

He said: “The helmet was in my hand and I underarm threw it to her.

“She reached out to grab it but it bounced off her hand and into her face.

“She suffered a nose bleed.”

Waters went on to explain to the jury that the helmets were heavy to hold and wear, and that if anyone threw it at someone’s face, “it wouldn’t just cause a nosebleed, it would break it”.

He was also accused of burning a bag of clothes deliberately, but he said he thought it was rubbish.

He denied ever assaulting anyone physically or sexually, saying it was not in his nature.

After many hours of deliberations, the jury chose to believe Waters.

On Friday, the jury found Waters, of Shortlands, Basildon, not guilty of assault by penetration, assault causing actual bodily harm, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, and putting a person in fear of violence by harassment.

Waters was released from court on the same day.