A MAN has been cleared of causing damage to property in Otterburn – having being acquitted due to a lack of evidence.

Owen Burgess (21), whose address at the time of the alleged offence was Otterburn Castle, had been charged with damaging the car of another Otterburn resident following an incident on July 23 last year.

The defendant appeared at Newcastle Magistrates Court on Friday, June 8 when the case was dismissed.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charges during an earlier hearing in February.