A FORMER councillor collapsed in the dock after a jury found him not guilty of doing a monkey impression and waving a banana at an Asian shopkeeper.

Iain McElhone passed out when the unanimous verdict clearing him of racial harassment was returned at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday after a two-day trial.

He was revived by court staff while his barrister, Christopher Knox, brought him a cup of water.

Mr McElhone, 43, of Ashfield, Shotley Bridge, near Consett, County Durham, was an independent ward councillor for Delves Lane when he was arrested and charged in February.

He said: “I am relieved and happy that justice has been done. It was cobblers all the way through. I am truly disappointed that my last few months at Derwentside District Council were marred by these unfounded allegations.”

Mr McElhone was accused of making the monkey gesture to Kulwinder Singh Sidhu on November 7, as he sat on a bus while the shopkeeper was in his general store in Briardale, in Delves Lane, Consett.

Clodagh Maguire, prosecuting told the jury he subtly but deliberately made the motion to offend Mr Sidhu.

Inspector Dave Turner said police found CCTV footage of Mr McElhone scratching his armpit and showing the banana, after he phoned to say Mr Sidhu had stuck two fingers up at him.

Mr McElhone said if he had scratched it was because he was itchy, having suffered from eczema since adolescence, and took the banana out to avoid squashing it.

The jury took less than an hour to clear him and he is hoping to return to work as a firefighter, having been suspended since February when the charges were brought.

Later, Mr McElhone said: “I am now looking forward to standing for re-election and returning to an active part in local government.”

■ On Wednesday, when court proceedings had finished for the day, Mr McElhone was arrested by police on suspicion of witness intimidation and taken to Consett police station for questioning, but officers have since confirmed no further action is to be taken.