Olympic diver is cleared of assaulting security guard

Olympic diver Blake Aldridge was yesterday cleared of attacking a supermarket security guard and said he hoped it would help him cast off his image as the bad boy of British diving.

Smartly dressed in a grey suit, Aldridge spent just nine minutes in the dock at Bromley Magistrates' Court before the common assault charge against him was dismissed though lack of evidence.

Aldridge, 28, who came eighth in the 10-metre synchronised dive at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with the then 14-year-old Tom Daley, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address in Bromley, south London.

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But after the hearing he said: "I feel no different now to when I was charged – as far I was concerned I was innocent the whole time."

Aldridge had denied attacking a security guard at Tesco in Croydon Road, Beckenham, south-east London, in February.