A POLICEMAN has been cleared of attacking his fiancée – after a court heard she struck him first while “ridiculously drunk” following a night out.

Steven Armstrong, 29, was accused of assaulting Caleih Hambly, 30, while driving her home on September 24 this year.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard that Miss Hambly phoned 999 and later told cops and her dad that Mr Armstrong punched her in the face.

Mr Armstrong was detained and charged over the alleged attack and went on trial last week, accused of assault to injury.

But Miss Hambly told the court that, as she had so much to drink on the night in question, she could not remember what she said to police in the statement she gave while at her brother’s house in Barrhead.

She claimed she had downed seven ‘venom’ cocktails – made from a double vodka, shot of Southern Comfort and vodka-based alcopop – as well as three gins and a bottle of wine.

Miss Hambly told the court she suffered a black eye after getting into a fight with another reveller in The Shed nightclub, in Glasgow, and was later left with a mark on her cheek because Mr Armstrong accidentally struck her with his elbow while trying to restrain her as they drove home to Paisley.

She added: “He was trying to stop me hitting him because he was trying to drive the car.

“I now see it could have caused an accident.”

The court heard Mr Armstrong was annoyed because Miss Hambly had texted him to say she had been in a fight and then asked him to pick her up at 3am.

When asked by defence agent Pamela Rodgers if Mr Armstrong had punched her, she replied: “No.”

And when asked why she had previously said he had hit her, she replied: “I think I’ve just misread the situation because I was so drunk and I’m not used to drinking that level of alcohol.”

Mr Armstrong gave evidence in his own defence, telling the court he was “too nice at times” and claiming he had been assaulted by his fiancée.

He said Miss Hambly burst his lip but he didn’t tell police about that at the time he was detained over the alleged assault because he didn’t want to get her into trouble.

Mr Amrstrong added: “We’re going to Mexico next week for two weeks. We’re getting married next year. We have plans.

“At no point, and nor would I ever, ever, assault my future wife.

“This has been the most traumatic event of my life. My job is on the line.”

At the end of the trial, Sheriff Tom McCartney slammed Miss Hambly over her conduct, before clearing Mr Armstrong.

He said: “I regret to have to say I assess Caleih Hambly as a wholly unsatisfactory witness.

“It is hard to see that she has not either made a false allegation or she is deliberately not telling the truth.

“I do not accept anything she said as either credible or reliable.”

Sheriff McCartney said whatever did take place between Mr Armstrong and Miss Hambly on the night in question was “of great concern” but he was not satisfied guilt had been proved beyond reasonable doubt.