A Radlett man has been cleared of trying to set his former lover on fire as she was organising a swingers' party for 150 people to attend.

Kenneth Stewart, had been in business with Helen Shields, running the adult parties where sex takes place, but they had fallen out.

The prosecution alleged that Stewart, known as 'Tony' chased Miss Shields through the detached house in Radlett, Herts, squirting lighter fuel over her and clutching a lighter.

But on Tuesday he was cleared by a jury of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent and an alternative making a threat to kill.

However, he had pleaded guilty to a charge of affray. He was jailed for 12 months for that offence but has served the equivalent sentence while on remand.

An indefinite restraining order was made ordering him not to contact Miss Sheild or be within 100 yards of her.

Judge Barbara Mensah said she was satisfied that he did throw the lighter fuel, but said although he had a lighter on him she did not believe it was lit.

She said it must have been very frightening for the victim and friends who witnessed it, who at first thought he was throwing acid.

And she also said that whatever the truth behind their business fall out it did not justify what he had done.

The court heard that the adult parties were held twice a month for members of a club known as The Black Man's Fan Club.

Parties were held at a private house in Radlett and sometimes at a club called Arousals near Dunstable.

Giving evidence Miss Shields  said that the club's 100 to 1500 members had a "common interest."

"Members were either black guys or a lady into black guys," she told the jury.

During the trial the court heard that last November after four and a half years together, 43 year old Miss Shields, who comes from Merseyside, decided to end her relationship with the defendant, who was living in Walthamstow. in East London.

Following the split, there was an attempt by the pair to continue the parties but, by January of this year, said Simon Wilshire, prosecuting, "Things had become untenable between them."

The prosecutor said Mr Stewart wanted £2,500 from Miss Shields and, in return, he would walk away from the business and allow her to run it on her own.

On Saturday February 20 this year a party was due to be held at a private house called 'Littlecroft' in Theobald Street, Radlett, Herts.

It was a regular venue and around 150 people were expected that night for the event which would start around 10pm and continue into the early hours.

Miss Shields had organised the event and arrived at the property with five men who had come along to help with catering, to set up the bar and provide security.

However, on arrival, they discovered Mr Stewart was already there along with his new girlfriend.

He was asked to leave the house and stepped outside but she became aware of the defendant running towards her. Lighter fuel was thrown over her, which she at first thought was acid.

Mr Stewart, 44, of Hazelwood Road, Walthamstow, pleaded not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and making a threat to kill.

He told the jury that back in December of last year he had made her an offer that she could buy him out and he would walk away from the business.

Then, turning to the events of February 20 at Littlecroft in Radlett he said he was approached by all five of the men and told by one of them he was not wanted in the house.

He said he went outside the house and as he stood on his own hoping he would get a chance to talk to Miss Shields, she appeared in the porch with one of the men.

Moments later he said he "flipped".

"It was a case of split second rage. I was saying 'Bastards! you can't be doing this to me. I was annoyed, I was saying 'You are robbing me. I just let loose"

He said he had picked up the lighter fuel earlier while clearing up and claimed he never directed it at Miss Shields.