A DISABLED man accused of helping his terminally-ill father die 22 years ago has left court a free man.

Neil Cowton, 50, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of John Rispin Cowton on January 18, 1985.

John Cowton had been given hours or, at best, days to live at the time the offence was said to have taken place.

Before his admission to Northallerton's Friarage Hospital, he had been cared for by his son.

Mr Cowton was formally acquitted at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday.

The prosecution said it would be impractical to conduct a trial due to Mr Cowton's health, the sentence likely to be passed if he was found guilty, and the like- lihood of him committing offences in the future.

Helen Holmes, prosecuting, said: "The allegation is that while his father was terminally ill in hospital in 1985 suffering from cancer, the defendant gave him a number of valium tablets.

"The evidence primarily came from this defendant's own admissions to a psychologist and to the police in 2004. The Crown are taking the view that they are to offer no evidence in this case.

"The Crown were able to consider the position further having received an up-to-date medical report regarding the defendant's ill health - a chronic and, it would seem, worsening condition.

"While the Crown maintain that the evidential test is still met, we consider that it is not in the public interest to pursue the matter further."

Peter Makepeace, mitigating, said he was grateful to the Crown for taking "a practical, humane and compassionate view" of the case.

Judge David Bryant ordered a not guilty verdict and awarded Mr Cowton £30 travel costs.

Mr Cowton is wheelchair-bound due to several health conditions including systemic lupus, an auto-immune disease where the body attacks its own cells and tissues, causing inflammation, pain and possible organ damage.

He thanked the court as he left.