A CONVICTED stalker cleared of harassing a council worker has been banned from Worcester Guildhall as part of a restraining order.

The prosecution offered no evidence against 'pro-democracy campaigner' David Griffiths at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday after their main witness, Alan Taylor, said he did not want to give evidence for a second time.

This led to a formal not guilty verdict being returned on behalf of the 50-year-old by Judge Robert Juckes QC during a short administrative hearing.

Mr Griffiths regularly campaigns outside the Guildhall against "council corruption" and health issues.

Prosecutor Ekwall Singh Tiwana told the court Mr Taylor had 'mental health difficulties' and 'does not want to attend again', arguing that there was 'no prospect of conviction' against Mr Griffiths were there to be a second trial.

The case against Mr Griffiths was that he wrote letters to a council worker in breach of an earlier restraining order, persuading Mr Taylor to sign them on his behalf, an allegation he denied.

Although the not guilty verdict was returned, Mr Griffiths was nevertheless made subject to a 10 year restraining order which prevents him entering Worcester Guildhall in the High Street, including the courtyard enclosed by the railings (other than on election days).

Mr Griffiths, who describes himself as a 'campaigner', was not banned from the High Street, a condition which had been included in a draft of the order but was ditched following discussions between the prosecution and defence.

Mr Griffiths, also a member of the union Unite, objected to this aspect of the restraining order. Speaking after the hearing, Mr Griffiths said he 'stood his ground' and would have breached that particular condition. His barrister, Michael Aspinall, had argued on his behalf that such a prohibition would 'prevent him carrying on what would be perfectly lawful activity' and his 'right to protest'.

He still intends to hand out leaflets outside the Guildhall as soon as this Friday just as he has in the past though he cannot cross the threshold marked by the railings or enter the building itself.

Mr Griffiths had been expected to face a second trial in Hereford which was due to begin on Tuesday.

The jury in the first trial was discharged last month for reasons that were never disclosed in open court.

Mr Griffiths of Bridge Street, Worcester, had denied writing the letters to a council procurement officer and gave evidence in the witness box during his first trial comparing the whole process to 'something that happens in North Korea'.

Mr Griffiths denied breaching a restraining order by sending four letters criticising a council procurement officer and charity volunteer Sheila Mari between December 9 and December 19, 2017.

Mr Griffiths was convicted of stalking her in 2016.

The prosecution said the letters were sent to Worcester City Council, Malvern Hills District Council, Wychavon District Council and Cllr Jo Hodges in breach of a five year restraining order imposed on February 19, 2016.

Miss Mari said the letters were 'malicious, vexatious and defamatory of my character'. When she gave evidence she broke down in the witness box and said she was 'scared' of Mr Griffiths.

But in his own evidence Mr Griffiths said ‘I did not write that letter’ and claimed he saw it for the first time when police interviewed him.

He denied ‘bullying’ Mr Taylor, a man with learning difficulties, into writing the letter to Miss Mari and also said an apologetic Mr Taylor had written a retraction letter. Griffiths was cross-examined by prosecutor Ekwall Singh Tiwana, telling the jury this letter had been ‘lost’ after he handed it to solicitors Rogers and Co and he ‘wasn’t very happy’ about it.

In his trial Mr Griffiths said: “This is the sinister part - the police have used a very vulnerable man to try and get me into trouble."

Speaking after the not guilty verdict Mr Griffiths said: "It's shocking. I feel like I'm being set up all the time. I was acquitted, found not guilty."

Mr Griffiths said he had been arrested 'seven or eight times' as a result of the case, including twice in one week which he called 'surreal'.

Mr Griffiths said: "I'm relieved but what are they going to do next? I believe in democracy, openness and freedom of speech."

He said he had campaigned on behalf of the NHS, against corruption, the 'austerity lie' and council salaries.

He said he had suffered depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance as a result of the trial.

Mr Griffiths added: "It's made me ill. Hopefully that's it."