Spencer cleared after police find no basis to complaint

All Black Carlos Spencer is "moving forward" after Tauranga police said yesterday that no charges would be laid against him after an assault complaint.

The Blues star, who had been confident he would be cleared of the allegation, was "focusing on football", his spokesman Winston Su'a said. Tauranga businessman Robert Skelton, 42, claimed Spencer had punched him in the face during a late-night dispute in a bar 10 days ago.

Spencer was holding his stag night at the new Home bar in downtown Tauranga, owned by his former teammate Adrian Cashmore. Bouncers stepped in to separate Spencer and Skelton after an altercation, and Skelton later complained to police.

Tauranga police had established there was no evidence to support the assault allegation. "Both he and the complainant agree they were both mutually responsible for the incident which was minor, unfortunate and blown out of proportion," Senior Sergeant Glenn Saunders said yesterday.

"Despite earlier reports, neither party involved suffered any injury. Police have filed the matter."

Mr Skelton said: "I am not talking at the moment. I've had a gutsful of it. I'm going away fishing for a few days."