A town councillor has spoken of his "huge relief" after allegations he assaulted a teenager were thrown out by a court.

The case against Brian Hudson, a Keighley Town Councillor, was discontinued by Bingley Magistrates yesterday after prosecutor Duncan Ritchie offered no evidence.

Mr Hudson, of Bronte Drive, Keighley, a self-employed joiner, had denied the accusation of common assault which was said to have happened outside his home on March 14 this year. He reported the incident to police himself shortly after it happened.

After the hearing he said he had made an official complaint about the way the case had been handled.

He was distressed about the length of time - about five months - it took for officers to charge him.

And he was unhappy at the way he was treated by police, particularly at the time of his arrest.

He said: "I was initially told about the accusation in March. I heard nothing else for about five months when I was contacted by an officer who said I must come to the police station for interview and if not I would be arrested.

"When I said I couldn't come straightaway, he promptly came and arrested me within ten minutes."

He was then placed in a cell for five hours and was not given a drink for four hours.

"I have complained about their attitude and the fact they were over-bearing and over zealous," said Mr Hudson.

He said the last seven months had been extremely stressful for himself and his wife, Maureen.

He understood that the length of time between being seen by the police and his formal arrest was because the incident had not been logged by the investigating officer.

The decision to dismiss the case was a "huge relief" lifting a heavy burden that had affected his health. He had been unable to sleep properly and had sought medical help.

He had had to endure finger pointing and sarcastic comments and some taunting by young people in the area.

Even on a holiday he and his wife had been unable to enjoy themselves because of the looming prosecution.

He said the so-called assault related to an incident in which he told a boy to stop riding his bike against his garden wall.

The boy had been standing aside his bike and seemed to move towards him, saying he could do what he felt like.

"I thought he was going to attack me by using the bike as a weapon so I put up my hand and caught him on the shoulder to restrain him.

"I have never hit anyone in my life - not even my own son," he added.

e-mail: clive.white@bradford.newsquest.co.uk