A MAN accused of groping a girl during his 21st birthday celebrations while dressed as the film character Austin Powers was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm yesterday.

But a jury at Newcastle Crown Court cleared Keith Sheardown of indecently assaulting another woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Sheardown, 22, of Low Fell, Gateshead, was alleged to have put his hand up the woman's skirt and groped her in a nightclub. He later head-butted another woman, Christine McNinley, breaking her nose.

The court had heard that Sheardown had tried to look up women's skirts and fondle them, and then kicked 22-year-old Miss McNinley from behind, and butted her after she told him to behave.

Judge Peter Bowers adjourned the hearing to a date to be set and bailed Sheardown while pre-sentence reports were prepared.