A former JC reporter has been cleared of assaulting her neighbour in an argument over her children’s football.

Susannah Marmot, 42, was found not guilty at the Old Bailey after just half an hour of jury deliberations. She faced one charge of actual bodily harm.

Mrs Marmot, of Edgware, north west London, was accused of attacking George Louka and leaving him needing 10 stitches following a row outside their homes in October last year. He had confiscated a ball belonging to the children after it rolled into his garden.

The case, which cost around £100,000 of taxpayers’ money, was brought despite two judges advising the Crown Prosecution Service to drop charges against the mother-of-four.

Mr Louka was the only person to give evidence against Mrs Marmot, who had 36 character references, including one from former JC editor Ned Temko.