An ice cream man has been cleared of assaulting his rival in a heated turf war.

Paul Cambridge was accused of punching Andrew Rudd through the window of his ice cream van after Mr Rudd had him banned from their mutual supplier.

But following a trial at Maidstone Magistrates' Court, the bench found the case against Mr Cambridge could not be proved.

Mr Rudd has sold ice creams on Sheppey for more than 30 years.

He said he became aware of Mr Cambridge, 42, setting up shop on his patch last year.

The court heard there are unwritten rules in the ice cream industry.

Vendors should not encroach on each other’s patches, but if they do they should sell at different times of the day.

Robert de Banzie, prosecuting, said Mr Rudd has an “ice cream empire”, and a “monopoly” of trucks circulating Sheppey, Sittingbourne and Faversham.

The successful business has been in his family for decades.

But things got a little frosty when new competition arrived.

Mr Rudd said he tried to arrange an amicable agreement with Mr Cambridge, but claims he broke the deal after one day.

Mr Rudd requested his supplier stop selling to Mr Cambridge, of Warden Road, Eastchurch.

Mr Cambridge later tracked down his rival, who was parked outside Queenborough Primary School on July, 21.

The prosecution said he punched him in the face, before returning to his car and driving off.

But Jag Takk, defending, said Mr Cambridge accidentally struck his rival whilst blocking a blow thrown at him.

He told the court his client went to find out why he was banned from the supplier.

Mr Rudd allegedly told him “that’s what you get for going up against me”.

The court was told Mr Rudd lost a tooth and was left with a bloody mouth and hefty dentist bill.

Mr Rudd’s daughter-in-law, Susannah, and her employee, Joe Pilkington, gave evidence during the trial.

They said they were present at the time, but neither saw the alleged altercation.

Mr Cambridge, who denied the charge of assault by beating, was acquitted as the case could not be proved.

He did not wish to comment after the trial.