Gardener cleared of assault charges after tackling thieves Welcoming the decision, Mr Woodhouse, from Govilon, Monmouthshire, said: "The verdicts show we have a criminal justice that works. When people act to defend themselves and their property it will not be considered unlawful. The last 10 months have been very harrowing for me, my family and the people I employ. He added: "I acted to retrieve property stolen from my business and to detain the two people and in the course of the struggle it was unfortunate one of them got injured. It was never my intention to injure anyone that night. But it might serve as a reminder to other burglars and thieves that there are sometimes unintended consequences to entering property in the dead of night. When in the past I have suffered thefts and burglaries I have called the police. On this occasion I did not have the chance to call them. I am pleased I managed to apprehend the thieves and pleased they were brought to justice. Green and Cross broke into Mr Woodhouse's business premises on an industrial estate in March last year while he was in bed with his wife Lisa at their home in the village of Govilon, near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. Mr Woodhouse said he was woken just after midnight by a text message indicating a burglar alarm had been triggered. He then drove to the tyre yard where he runs his firm. The court had heard that the thieves tried to escape into a neighbouring field carrying stolen fuel from his machinery. Mr Woodhouse chased Green and caught him near their getaway car. He attacked Green leaving him with two broken legs and a broken arm. The court heard he chased Cross before rugby-tackling him. James Wilson, prosecuting, had claimed that Mr Woodhouse "lost his temper and went over the top" carrying out an "unreasonable and unlawful assault." However, the jury took less than 20 minutes to reach a verdict of not guilty. Following the conclusion of the case, Andrew Taylor, the defending barrister, said his client had showed courage and his actions had meant two thieves were caught. During the case Mr Taylor had insisted Mr Woodhouse acted in "lawful self-defence." The trial heard that his firm, which he set up 20 years ago, had been repeatedly targeted by thieves in recent years with machinery worth £15,000 and £20,000 being taken. Mr Woodhouse, who admitted fighting with the two raiders like a "mad man" told BBC Radio Wales he had been overwhelmed by the support he and his family had received. The businessman also said he felt shocked by the extent of Green's injuries, but insisted he had acted in self-defence.