A snapper who was found guilty of assaulting Heather Mills has had his conviction quashed because the ex-wife of Sir Paul McCartney was "too stressed" to attend his appeal hearing.

Jay Kaycappa was handed 140 hours community service for grabbing Mills' shoulder as he tried to take her photo in a Brighton, England subway in July 2006.

The 32-year-old snapper was handed the community punishment order at Brighton Magistrates Court in August.

But the conviction has now been overturned after the court heard that former glamour model was too stressed to attend his appeal hearing.

Lewes Crown Court heard that Mills was "refusing to give evidence", with prosecutors adding: "We don't know where she is." The court was then shown a doctor's report claiming Mills was suffering from stress.

The judge allowed the appeal and overturned Kaycappa's sentence.