Bywater had pleaded not guilty to a charge of affray. He was accused of brandishing the sword during an altercation with two delivery men in June last year. The court heard the 36-year-old had accused the workmen of scratching his kitchen floor while they delivered an oven to his home in Nether Alderley, Cheshire. The goalkeeper had told the court he only had the sword in his hand to open the packaging on the oven, which was being delivered for use at his daughter’s sixth birthday party.
Bywater was given character references from Robbie Savage during the trial.