CONVICTED killer Dennis Scott yesterday won his latest court battle, after being cleared of threatening to damage a neighbour’s car.

Following the not guilty verdict, delivered by a jury at Durham Crown Court, the former gangland figure said he still hoped to clear his name over the murder of Angus Sibbett, in County Durham, in 1967, which inspired the cult film Get Carter.

Mr Sibbett, a cash collector for Mr Scott’s fruit machine business, was found shot dead in a Jaguar car, under Pesspool Bridge, South Hetton, in the early hours of January 5, 1967.

Seventy-five-year-old Mr Scott, formerly known as Stafford, hopes to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Speaking outside the court, following yesterday’s verdict, Mr Scott said: “I’m only here because of Durham Police.

Nobody else would have been charged with this at all. They spent thousands on this case.

“They do not wish me to go to Europe and, if I get there, they want to disparage me before I get there.”

Asked about the prospect of his attempt to quash his murder conviction being listed at the European court, in Strasbourg, Mr Scott added: “It won’t be long. I’ve appointed a top QC who’s coming out of retirement for the case.”

Mr Scott’s comments were made shortly after the unanimous not guilty verdict was returned by the jury at Durham.

It followed a three-day trial over an alleged threat made by Mr Scott to have a car owned by a neighbour, Charles Scott, “torched”.

He was involved in a dispute with Charles Scott over ownership of parts of Stanhope Castle, where both live. The parking of Charles Scott’s replica kit model of a Fifties Royale Sabre car, in a garage Dennis Scott claimed he owned, became the subject of ill-feeling between them.

Several weeks after Dennis Scott was alleged to have made the threat, the car was destroyed in a fire which spread from the garage to workshops he also owned.

Several residents had to evacuate their apartments in the castle, as a result of the blaze on June 21 last year.

Although Dennis Scott was away from the castle with his wife, Merle, that weekend, and no one has been brought to book for the arson, he was subsequently charged with making a threat to destroy or damage property. He denied the charge.

A costs order was made in Dennis Scott’s favour.

Responding to Dennis Scott’s comments, a Durham Police spokesman said: “This incident was thoroughly and professionally investigated, with all the relevant evidence put before the court. We acknowledge the jury’s verdict.”