A 33-year-old accused of strapping knives to his hands in the style of Wolverine before plunging one into a love rival's stomach has been cleared.

Andrew Stuart Nelson shouted "yes" in the dock and punched the air as he was acquitted of malicious wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and threatening another with an offensive weapon.

As he left the courtroom he stopped and said: "Thanks mate," to his barrister and: "You made the right decision as well," to the jury of seven women and five men.

Homeless Mr Nelson was placed under a retraining order to prevent harassment which bans him from Broad Close in Ormsgill, Barrow, and approaching Scott Hornby or his ex partner Vicky Arts.

The jury were brought back into court after four hours of deliberation and Judge Philip Grundy said he would accept a majority verdict and 23 minutes later they returned and delivered two not guilty pleas.

Barrow Crown Court heard this week during the four day trial how Miss Arts and Mr Hornby had been partners for 10 years but she had had relations with Nelson five years in and had a child by him.

It was claimed by prosecution barrister Mr Mark Lamberty that on May 30 Nelson had strapped knives to his hands with bandages  and confronted Mr Hornby before stabbing him in the stomach leaving a 2.6inch wound to his abdomen and cutting him near his ear.

Defence barrister Mr Andrew Scott said that Mr Nelson had in fact probably inflicted the wound on himself in an attempt to get back at him.

He said Mr Nelson had found Mr Hornby collapsed on a stairwell of flats and went to his aid. He said the injured man claimed he has been attacked by "Scousers."

Releasing the defendant from custody Judge Grundy said: "Don't forget to thank your barrister before you leave.

"If you had been found guilty I would have locked you up for a long time. You had estimated 10 years and I can  tell you now you wouldn't have been far wrong.

"You mix with thew wrong crowds.

"To prevent harassment I'm issuing an indeterminate restraining order which means you cannot enter Broad Close or approach Vicky Arts or Scott Hornby by any means or trough a third party