A FORMER councillor who was accused of scratching a car has had a court case against him dropped.

William Collison, who represented Kearsley on Bolton Council, appeared at Bolton Magistrates’ Court yesterday for a trial.

He had been charged with criminal damage, but the case was dismissed after the main witness did not attend court and the crown offered no evidence.

It had been listed for trial on three occasions since the alleged incident in March, but each time failed to go ahead.

The case has cost Mr Collison £3,500 in legal bills, which is to be paid back to him from public funds.

Mr Collison, aged 61, of Bolton Road, Kearsley, said: “The witness said that he saw someone sat in a green car scratching another car.

“But I have a blue car and did not have anything to do with this.”

“I was disgusted with the police, their attitude was that I should plead guilty, but why would I do that if I didn’t do the crime?”