Soccer chairman's 'vendetta' claim

George Reynolds outside the court

The chairman of third division Darlington FC has accused two police forces of conspiring against him.

George Reynolds is suing the chief constable of Cleveland Police for wrongful arrest, unlawful imprisonment and malicious prosecution.

The multi-millionaire told the High Court in Middlesbrough that his business success had made him the target of a 30-year vendetta.

The source of his arrest, he said, lay deep in the past when he was acquitted of 33 charges brought by police.

In the north of England especially ... it is a very, very, very serious offence, and I put my hands up to it, to be successful, ambitious and to work hard

George Reynolds

He accused Cleveland Police and the neighbouring Durham force of "pure conspiracy".

Mr Reynolds told the court: "This has been created by an officer with a vendetta. They hate failure, they hate losing face."

Mr Reynolds admitted that Cleveland Police had acted correctly when they asked Durham Police to arrest him at his offices in County Durham in August 1992 following allegations that he had made threatening phone calls to his former wife.

Criminal convictions

He then said that he was due to be freed on bail at the request of Cleveland Police when his release was allegedly blocked by Inspector John Blake of Durham Police who made him spend the night in a cell at Stockton police station.

Mr Reynolds claimed in court that the inspector cited his previous criminal convictions as a reason to keep him in custody.

His solicitor at the time unsuccessfully attempted to gain Mr Reynolds' release as he was applying for custody of his eldest daughter Victoria the following day.

He confessed in court that he had a criminal past and had spent time in prison but said he had held himself up as an anti-crime advert.

Arrest 'cost'

Mr Reynolds said he hoped youngsters would learn from his business achievements after turning his back on crime. But he said not everyone felt this way.

"In the north of England, your honour, especially ... it is a very, very, very serious offence, and I put my hands up to it, to be successful, ambitious and to work hard," he said.

Under cross-examination, it was revealed that Mr Reynolds' accountant David Brayshaw had estimated the arrest had cost the company £4m.

But Aidan Marron QC, counsel for the police, said the total estimated profit loss was "unmitigated rubbish".

'Festering events'

He claimed Mr Reynolds' work problems were caused by a "festering and dangerous set of events" involving his ex-wife Karen Brown and her family.

The court heard allegations that more than #80,000 worth of damage had been caused to Mr Reynolds' property in a series of break-ins, burglaries and when Ms Brown rammed a fleet of his Mercedes cars.

Mr Marron said: "The situation at the time of your arrest, probably not your fault, had got out of control."

The case was adjourned until Tuesday.