Coun Ahmed Khan said he felt "completely vindicated" after district judge Roger Elsey found he had no case to answer following an incident on the steps of South Shields Town Hall earlier this year.

Bangladeshi community leader Lalon Amin claimed Coun Khan grabbed him around his neck, put him in a headlock and pulled his coat over his head at a Cultures Together event on June 17.

Mr Amin told the court he felt Coun Khan, 48, of Julian Avenue, South Shields, had "violated my rights, my space, my integrity".

But DJ Elsey dismissed the case without calling the defence's evidence at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court yesterday.

After the verdict, Coun Khan, who spent almost £10,000 on defence costs, said : "I am delighted that I have been cleared without even the need to give evidence. It was evident from the decision that the case should never have been brought."

Part of the incident was captured on camera by a Gazette reporter covering the launch.

Richard Duff, defending Coun Khan, said the incident occurred while his client was ushering Mr Amin away from the area where the Gazette was filming. Mr Duff said the video also provided evidence that Coun Khan was a "tactile person".

After examining the video, Judge Elsey found the footage failed to prove "hostile intent".

He said: "The defendant's behaviour may have been overbearing and bullying, but that is not the same as being criminal."

The judge added: "If what Mr Amin claims to have happened had been shown on the video, there would have been a case to answer, but it is not possible to say that happened as seen on the video. There is insufficient evidence to be satisfied that the defendant had sufficient hostile intent to be guilty of assault."

The court heard Mr Khan, Independent Alliance councillor for Beacon and Bents in South Shields, and Mr Amin had a "frosty relationship".

He added: "I am disappointed. I ask anyone in South Tyneside to view the footage to make their own mind up. I do not believe anyone has the right to treat people this way."