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A cleared councillor has vowed to take legal action against Nottinghamshire Police after facing 950 days of agony over allegations he abused a teenage boy.

Supporters in the public gallery clapped after the prosecution offered no evidence against Jason Zadrozny at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday (October 30).

The 37-year-old - who sits on both Ashfield district and Nottinghamshire county councils - was due to have a trial today - until he was told by the judge he was acquitted of all the charges and free to go.

The prosecution explained to the judge the background to why the decision had been made, and how the complainant had been spoken with at his address on Sunday night.

A review of the evidence concerned the time when Mr Zadrozny had a red people carrier and a particular property.

His lawyer, Matt Hayes, explained outside the courtroom that there was not sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, and that was the Crown's view.

"Our case is there has never been any evidence," he said. "The significant things in the case regarding a car and a house - the time period did not fit the prosecution's."

Mr Zadrozny, of Sutton Road, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, insisted afterwards he intended to launch a lawsuit against Nottinghamshire Police.

Mr Zadrozny pleaded not guilty to all the allegations last April.

He denied 24 offences, including four allegations of a sexual nature when the alleged victim was 13 years old.

Four further charges alleged Mr Zadrozny indecently assaulted the boy by getting him to perform a sexual act. Four charges alleged gross indecency with the boy, while 12 counts cited sexual activity.

Today he said this all began 950 days - or two-and-half years - ago.

"It's horrific," he said. "It's the most horrible thing anybody can be accused of, especially someone like me, who likes to be with my friends and family. I've had concerns being around them with their children. I've been nervous at family events, and because this is a horrible thing to be accused of."

And when asked by reporters what he intends to do next, he replied: "Lawsuits. We are going to sue Nottinghamshire Police, and we are going to take this as high as it gets."

Later today, a statement was released from the councillor which read: “I am of course delighted by the verdict – it was one we expected. I want to thank my family and friends who stuck by me.

"It has been the worst two-and-half years of my life. My dad, Richard, died just weeks after my arrest – he never got to see me cleared, and I would like to dedicate this to my dad."

In a statement Nottinghamshire Police said information provided by the defence last week led to the decision to not proceed with the case.

The statement said: "Nottinghamshire Police takes all reports of sexual offences seriously and investigations are conducted impartially, without fear or favour.

"We have a duty to investigate all reports of sexual offences, no matter how long ago the offences occurred or who they are against. Victims should feel they will be believed by the police, who will then investigate thoroughly and impartially and follow where the evidence takes us.

"It is not the role of the police to decide on what should be prosecuted or determine guilt or innocence, which is done by a jury. We gather the available evidence and present it to the CPS, who consider the evidence and form a decision to charge a person, or not."

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "A file of evidence was referred to the CPS by Nottinghamshire Police in January 2016. It was decided the case met the evidential and public interest tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and charges were authorised.

"The case has been kept under continual review and in light of new information provided to prosecutors, the evidential test is no longer met. This specifically relates to the age of the complainant at the time of the alleged offences. We have therefore stopped proceedings by offering no evidence."