Engineer cleared of assaulting lawyer outside Commons bar

An engineer accused of assaulting a Parliamentary lawyer outside a notorious Westminster bar was cleared today (fri) after insisting he was punched first. Ronald Freeman, 57, was said to have shoved Peter Brooksbank, 64, to the floor outside the Sports and Social Bar last December 5. Mr Brooksbank, who helps MPs scrutinise secondary legislation, was left needing 12 stitches to his forehead, Southwark Crown Court heard. The prosecution claimed that Freeman shoved the lawyer over after chasing him outside the…