Manchester United captain Roy Keane has been cleared of assaulting a 16-year-old by a magistrates court.

The Irish international was found not guilty of common assault, a public order offence and criminal damage.

Mr Keane, 33, of Hale, Cheshire, had denied assaulting a 16-year-old boy.

A judge at Trafford Magistrates’ Court in Greater Manchester said he was not convinced by the teenager’s evidence, saying he had been exposed as a liar.

District Judge Paul Richardson said: “It was clear to me this was a young man who enjoyed the attention that the incident had given him. Given his motive was at the best very questionable, I could not rely on his evidence.”

After leaving court, Manchester United club solicitor Maurice Watkins released a short statement on behalf of the player.

It said: “Roy has been here for two days. Throughout Roy has co-operated fully with the police inquiry.

“He has maintained his innocence throughout and he has been vindicated today and he is very relieved justice has been done.”