Mark Jordon has been found not guilty of affray, unlawful wounding and assault by beating.
The ‘Emmerdale’ actor – known for his role as Daz Spencer – was on trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester after his bit Andrew Potts, 68, following a beer garden row on July 1 last year.
The 54-year-old soap star’s girlfriend Laura Norton – who plays Kerry Wyatt on the show – was in tears in the public gallery, while the jury of eight men and four men deliberated the case for almost seven hours.
Jordon had been accused of attacking Potts and assauling his partner Rosalind O’Neill during a row at the Farrars Arms where the actor was celebrating his and Norton’s engagement.
The jury was told that Mr. Potts and Mrs. O’Neill made comments about Jordon’s 18-year-old daughter Poppy, with the soap star alleging he called her a "slag" and said he had video footage of her which he would upload to YouTube.
Although Mr. Potts denied the claims, he said he told Jordon he wouldn’t let Poppy act like that in front of them, and alleged the actor screamed: "I’ll f***ing kill you, you old bastard."
As shown in CCTV footage, Jordon had to be held back from Mr. Potts, who threw punches at him.
The pair clashed again after the couple left the pub and Jordon confronted them after getting out of a taxi.
The court heard that the actor bit the pensioner on the thumb and palm of his hand, and the pair fell to the ground where he bit his eyebrow.
However, Jordon said he bit him in self-defence after he was attacking, adding: "It was not planned, regretful and in the moment. It was pure instinct."
Judge Mark Savill addressed the jurors before they were sent to consider their verdicts, and said: "Mark Jordon is an actor. You try this case, please, only on the evidence you have seen and heard in this trial.
"Somebody’s job has no relevance to that and you will treat Mr Jordon in the same way as you would any member of the public, save where his occupation is relevant."
Emmerdale’s Mark Jordon found not guilty
