Tom Daley’s husband weeps as case tossed after woman claimed he assaulted her at party with Love Island ex Amber Gill
TOM Daley's husband wept today as a judge threw his case out after a woman claimed he assaulted her while she partied with her Love Island ex Amber Gill.
Dustin Lance Black, 49, was accused of making Teddy Edwardes, 33, a star of BBC3 show The Big Proud Party Agency, feel "uncomfortable".
Black, who has two kids with Olympic diver Daley, 29, allegedly twisted Edwardes wrist "very hard" - causing her to spill her drink.
The BBC presenter then punched him in the back of the head, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.
She was later cautioned for ";hitting Black" and "going too far in self-defence" during the row, it was said.
Black sobbed and hugged his husband as the assault case was thrown out today by a judge, who branded the evidence "inconsistent" and "unreliable".
Read more news
He said: "I am pleased that the judge saw the truth today and ruled in my favour. As the evidence has proven, and I have always maintained, I am completely innocent, and in fact was the victim in this case of a serious assault.
"I am relieved this unfortunate matter is now over."
Judge Joanna Cieciora slammed the case and "inconsistencies and weaknesses" in Edwardes' evidence.
She said: "She said at one point she couldn't remember a wrist grab clearly.
Most read in Showbiz
"I found that to be an odd statement given she had made public statement on social media and to the police to the effect that this is what happened.
"Firstly she noted she gave different social media accounts. She said Mr Black threw a drink over her then said he threw it in her face. CCTV demonstrated the drink was not thrown over her of in her face. Those accounts were simply not true.
"Further concern was that Ms Edwardes' account gave no mention of her wrist being grabbed until a late stage.
"I didn't consider her explanations including that she was angry or that social media isn't real life to be at all persuasive."
The court heard earlier how Edwardes, a former model model and founder of an events company, had been at the Freedom nightclub in London's Soho with her ex-girlfriend, Love Island star Amber.
She bumped into Olympic diver Tom and the group spent the rest of the night in a booth together.
Edwardes told the court screenwriter Black "didn’t seem to be very happy with me. Not very friendly".
The row allegedly unfolded when she asked security to remove another man from the area.
Edwardes claimed in her evidence that Black began "shouting" at her in her face as everyone, including Tom, tried to calm him down.
She added: “Lance grabbed my left wrist. I had a drink in my hand. He grabbed my wrist and twisted it round so my drink would go all over. He was inches from me.
“It was very hard and really aggressive.”
Edwardes also told the court she no longer feels "comfortable going to gay bars", which she called her "safe space".
But Black's defence lawyer told her: "You have completely underplayed your own aggression that night in your evidence.
“You have completely underplayed your aggression to Mr Black before the incident that you are here about.
“You have exaggerated what Mr Black has done. There was no time to make any contact with you to grab your wrist.”
The court was also read some social media posts Edwardes made where she appeared to downplay the alleged incident.
When quizzed about this, she said: "I was just being silly.”
Black, who won an Oscar for his 2008 film Milk, denied a count of assault by beating following the alleged altercation on August 18 last year.
A spokesperson said previously: "Mr. Black was surprised and saddened to learn that the case had reached court and has today pleaded not guilty.
"Of course Mr. Black will respect the process, and in the meantime will continue to focus on being a loving father and husband."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The trial continues.
