A man who slashed the neck of a rival in a busy town centre after a row over a woman has been cleared of trying to murder him.

Harry Cadwallader was cut with a knife in after a bust up in the centre of Maidstone

Rodney Geisha, 50, also slashed the face of Mr Cadwallader's brother, Jack, during the row. But now a jury at Maidstone Crown Court has found him not guilty of attempted murder and causing GBH with intent.

The jury convicted him of the alternative charges of wounding with intent and causing grievous bodily harm. They also found him guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice and possessing a knife in public.

Geisha, of Fairmeadow, Maidstone will be sentenced in June and was remanded in custody.

He had denied charges of attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, illegally carrying a knife and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Prosecutor Martin Yale had revealed how Mr Cadwallader's neck was slashed on February 3 last year.

He said: "On that day the brothers had been in the centre of Maidstone and Harry had been drinking and accepts that alcohol was having an effect.

"At about 3.30pm they came across Geisha, who Harry had met when they did some physical training together.

"However, the two had fallen out when Harry came to believe that Geisha had made a pass at his girlfriend."

Mr Yale said there had been a "verbal exchange" after the two clashed and a police officer spoke with them and they had separated.

He added: "However, later that evening their paths crossed again when Geisha seemed to be trying to goad Harry about his previous interactions with Harry's girlfriend.

"However, the two had fallen out when Harry came to believe that Geisha had made a pass at his girlfriend..."

"Geisha was carrying a knife and during the altercation took the knife and used it to slash Harry's neck before slashing the face of Jack."

Geisha had told police he had been acting in self-defence, claiming Harry held a grudge against him.

Mr Yale revealed how after Geisha was in custody a former partner of Harry began receiving texts from an unknown number.

"These messages clearly related to the case and were threatening and intended to persuade Harry to change his evidence," he said.

The prosecutor said the calls were traced to Donna Meflah, Geisha's girlfriend, who has admitted the charge. She will also be sentenced in June.