FORMER Hearts striker Christian Nade broke down in the dock at court as he was cleared of foul play over the break-up of his relationship.

Mr Nade, 34, was said to have carried out a three-month reign of terror which saw him repeatedly beat up his ex, batter her dad and threaten to kidnap a baby at properties in Renfrew.

But he was cleared of all six charges after a trial at Paisley Sheriff Court.

The Frenchman clutched his head in his hands and fell onto the dock when told he was being acquitted of the alleged offences.

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These were said to have taken place between December 5 last year and March 11 this year and included attacking his former partner Laura Kennedy by giving her a backhanded slap on the face while he was holding a baby because she binned an out-of-date steak.

Miss Kennedy, 28, said he also hit her with a boxed toy car she was due to give a young relative for Christmas, as well as assaulting her on a third occasion because she binned a sauce he had made at the flat they shared in Kirkaig Avenue, Renfrew.

Prosecutors claimed the alleged assaults were aggravated by involving abuse of his partner but he was cleared of four charges on Friday following a 'no case to answer' submission by defence Solicitor Advocate Alan Gravelle.

Mr Nade still denied scaring or alarming Miss Kennedy's parents, Ann and Lawrence, by acting aggressively and intimidating them at their home in Tay Avenue, Renfrew.

And he denied assaulting Mr Kennedy, 60, to his injury by pushing him into a high chair, punching him on the head and causing him to hit his head off a window.

Mr Nade gave evidence in his own defence, insisting he had only pushed Mr Kennedy after he had shoved him first.

Mr Gravelle asked Sheriff Craig Harris to acquit his client of the remaining two charges, saying the case had come about due to bad blood between Miss Kennedy and Mr Nade following their break-up.

He said: "This stems from Mr Nade's infidelity. This is not a court of morals, context is everything.

"There was an overarching tension hanging over from the breakdown of a relationship. He was on the receiving end of Mr Kennedy squaring up to him and pushed him.

"Mr Nade's response in pushing him was proportionate, it does not go beyond that."

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Sheriff Harris then left the bench for 10 minutes to reach a verdict and returned to find the remaining charges against Mr Nade not proven, highlighting discrepancies in the evidence given by Mr and Mrs Kennedy.

He told the footballer, who has also played for Dumbarton, Dundee, Raith Rovers, Hamilton Accies, Stranraer, Annan Athletic and Sheffield United, that he had "reasonable doubt."

Sheriff Harris added: "I can't be clear as to exactly what took place within Mr and Mrs Kennedy's address."