A TEENAGER who left a pensioner dead after a fight outside a pub was cleared of manslaughter.

Cliff Maidment, 67, was sent crashing to the ground when the 17-year-old punched him in the face, breaking his nose.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the fall caused him to fracture his skull and the ex-Royal Navy sailor died in hospital after a five-day battle to save his life.

But the youth, from Sunderland, walked free from court yesterday after he told a jury he had no choice but to hit Mr Maidment.

The pensioner had shouted, swore and yelled at the teenager outside the Blue Bell pub, in Fulwell, then challenged him to a boxing bout.

After four-hours deliberation, the youth walked free from court after the jury accepted his claim that he was acting in self defence, last December.

The 17-year-old told the court how he was scared and eventually punched Mr Maidment, a divorcee from Leeds Street, Fulwell, before going off to the next pub.

The youth said he had not intended to hurt Mr Maidment and felt "bewildered, confused, scared and shocked - all in one" when he heard the pensioner had died.