A TAVISTOCK MAN who punched a friend and broke his cheekbone in a Plymouth night club was last week found not guilty of malicious wounding. Peter Page, 20, claimed he acted in self defence when he hit work-mate David Smyly in Oceana in the Barbican Leisure Park last September. The jury accepted his version of events and took just 45 minutes to clear him of the charge. Mr Smyly was later found to have a fractured cheekbone and needed a metal plate inserted in his face, Plymouth Crown Court was told. Mr Page admitted throwing the punch and causing grievous bodily harm, but said he acted in self-defence late on a Friday night. The court heard Mr Page sent him a text the following afternoon saying sorry and asking whether he was 'all right'. He added Mr Smyly returned to work on the Monday but his manager sent him to hospital. Mr Smyly told the court that £5 had gone missing which he had put on the bar to buy drinks. He said he had gone up to Mr Page on the dance floor to ask him whether he had the money. Mr Smyly said he was then punched to the face as he turned away. He added: 'I thought we were friends. He punched me for no reason. I was not aggressive in any way.' But Mr Page, of Old Exeter Road, Tavistock, said Mr Smyly had gone up to him, grabbed him by his top and repeatedly demanded 'Where's my fiver?' He added: 'I hit him because I thought he was going to hit me. I purely wanted to get him away from me.' Mr Page said he sent the text later that day because he wanted to smooth over any problems before they returned to work.