An experienced police officer has been cleared of claims he threw his wife down a flight of stairs and attacked her friend following a drunken night in a Masonic Hall.

Detective Constable John Tweedie was said to have attacked Anne-Marie Tweedie and pal Donna Kane, both 40, in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire.

The 54-year-old walked free from court this week when he was acquitted of the alleged assaults - after the court heard he regularly hit his wife when drunk.

But Tweedie, who was not suspended amid the claims and was allowed to work with vulnerable members of the public despite being accused of attacking the supposed love of his life, could still lose his job over the bust-up, as he is still the subject of disciplinary proceedings with Police Scotland.

Anne-Marie, who has been with Tweedie for 10 years, told colleagues of his probing his alleged attacks: "Because of the way he speaks to me I'm afraid to go home.

"He's hit me before when he's been drinking."

But when giving evidence about the events of May 10 last year she said she couldn't remember what happened because she was so drunk - and was warned she could be held in Contempt of Court for lying.

DC Tweedie was on trial at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, where Sheriff Maxwell Hendry was told tempers flared at a race night in the Masonic club in Renton, West Dunbartonshire.

DC Tweedie won a bottle of vodka in a raffle - which Anne-Marie and her friends drank - and they fell out, with DC Tweedie storming off home.

Anne-Marie and her pals later returned to the house and after lashing out at them, the court heard, DC Tweedie ran away from Kane's irate husband and locked himself inside his house.

The police were called and DC Tweedie, who is based at the Criminal Investigation Department in Dumbarton, was arrested and charged over the incident.

Margaret Barr, a friend of Ann-Marie's, said the Tweedies clashed in the Masonic earlier in the night and again at home.

She said she didn't know why her first statement to police didn't mention Anne-Marie being pushed down the stairs while her second statement did.

Anne-Marie said she had seven or eight vodka and Irn-Brus - before they began drinking DC Tweedie's vodka.

She insisted she couldn't remember what happened, or giving a statement to police, because she was so drunk - but remembered hearing Kane screaming in pain in the house.

Sheriff Hendry warned Anne-Marie: "Contempt is not complying with your oath, Mrs Tweedie - think on that for the rest of your evidence."

A flustered Anne-Marie then looked worryingly towards DC Tweedie, who shuffled from side to side in the dock.

The court also heard Kane told Barr on Facebook she was "sure" DC Tweedie flung Anne-Marie down the stairs, adding: "You said it right away, I think he's trying to get Anne-Marie to drop it."

The following day, May 11, 2015, Kane texted Anne-Marie: "I don't want him to lose his job over this, prob be in the papers and my neighbours will find out.

Anne-Marie replied: "It's up to you, things can't get worse. It's you that's bruised. I don't know what to do, John might not be allowed back here to stay.

Anne-Marie later texted her: "I did fall, he never pushed me, Mags never seen him push me."

Kane, an account manager with Hewlitt Packard, said she went to DC Tweedie's home with Anne-Marie and Barr and was attacked as she left.

She explained: "John punched me on the left side of my head, about my cheek and eye area.

"As I dropped my head and put my hands up he punched me again on the back of the head.

"I was shocked, I tried to get by him down the stairs, I got to the middle landing, stumbled and hit the wall.

"I managed to get out the house, John was chasing me - I could hear him shouting behind me.

"My husband Gerald was half way up the path. He shouted at John, 'What are you doing hitting my wife!?'

"John ran back into the house and locked the door.

"We waited for another taxi to take us all to Anne-Marie's parents house.

"When we arrived Gerald asked to call the police.

"At first Ann-Marie's mother refused, saying, 'he'll lose his job'."

But Gerald Kane did make the call, kick-starting the investigation which landed DC Tweedie in the dock.

During the trial the charge relating to his wife was dropped by the crown. 

The officer, who was represented by defence Advocate Joe Cahill during his trial, maintained his innocence and walked free from court this week after he was acquitted.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry, delivering the verdict, said he was not satisfied a crime has been committed, adding that it appeared the witnesses had their own agenda.

He said: "The crucial witness here is Donna Kane and I cannot accept her as a credible witness."

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "We're aware of outcome of court proceedings.

"With regard to any further disciplinary, a report of the circumstances will be reviewed.

"The officer has not been suspended."