A 16-year-old youth has been acquitted of any involvement in an alleged gang attack on a vulnerable man.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found not guilty by a trial jury on the direction of Judge Jonathan Rose, of assaulting 39-year-old Matthew Ellis near Frizinghall Community Centre.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday the mother of twin boys who were eight years old when they said they saw the incident, had said she would not allow them to take part in the procedure because they had “had enough”. The boys had, at an earlier date, taken part in an ID procedure in relation to two other defendants, one of whom has now been found guilty.

Judge Rose said: “By not holding an ID procedure he was deprived of the opportunity to be exhonorated. We don’t know, of course, what the two boys would have said.”

Two defendants remain on trial accused of wounding Mr Ellis with intent. They are Majid Ali, 19, of Aireville Road, and another 16-year-old youth, who also cannot be named.

The jury has heard Mr Ellis, who has mental health difficulties, was hit with his own metal detector and struck on the head after bricks were thrown at him on Easter Monday, April 25, last year.

Amar Shah, 18, of Lynthorne Road, was found guilty earlier in the trial on the direction of the judge. He had admitted hitting Mr Ellis with the metal detector but denied throwing stones.

The trial continues.