DJ cleared of assaulting lover

The DJ had always maintained his innocence

A country music radio disc jockey has been unanimously cleared of throwing his former lover down a set of concrete steps.

Trevor Campbell, 57, showed no reaction as the Downpatrick Crown Court jury acquitted him of intending to cause grievous bodily harm to Scottish country and western singer Ann Hogg.

The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for just under an hour before coming to their unanimous verdicts on Tuesday.

Mr Campbell, known as Big T, was also cleared of assaulting the singer during a drunken argument at his Church Road home in Moneyreagh in the early hours of 12 April last year.

Outside the court, the former Downtown Radio DJ said he "thanked the good Lord" his 18 month ordeal had come to an end.

He said he had "missed the wireless very much" and said his intention was "to get back on the radio as quickly as possible" and continue his country and western show.

During the seven day hearing, Ms Hogg had claimed the DJ had punched her on the nose and had broken her leg by launching her from the top of a set of concrete steps at the back door of Mr Campbell's home.

However the DJ, who had always maintained his innocence, told the jury that her fall had been totally accidental and that she had started the argument after asking when he was going to take off the wedding ring exchanged with his late wife and fellow DJ Linda Jane.

During her cross-examination by a defence lawyer, Ms Hogg admitted she had lied to a previous court while under oath.

The jury also cleared Mr Campbell of harassing the singer in the months following the incident after trial Judge Norman Lockie directed them to find him not guilty.