A FORMER parish councillor facing a catalogue of sexual abuse charges dating back to the 1960s will not stand trial - because he could not stand the stress.

Clifford Worley had been charged with 12 charges of indecently assaulting a girl under 16 between May 1968 and May 1977.

Teesside Crown Court was told that one of the allegations against him was that he had used a gun to keep a victim quiet.

But yesterday, the threat of prosecution was lifted when prosecutors accepted that the strain of a trial could prove too much for the 81-year-old's heart.

But in an unusual move, Judge Peter Fox ordered that the "extreme" charges against Mr Worley should remain on the court files.

He said: "This is a highly unusual case.

"This matter comes to an end in this crown court for compassionate reasons and it is right, on rare occasions, for the Crown to exercise its discretion, taking into account all the circumstances, including the personal circumstances of the defendant, in inviting the court to order that the indictment should lie on file.

"It has been a difficult decision. I have every confidence it is the right decision for the Crown in this case not to proceed.

"It should remain on file and not be proceeded with. It is rare indeed."

David Brooke, prosecuting, said the married pensioner was not fit to stand trial for the allegations.

He said: "We received a report from an independent specialist. It states in the clearest possible terms that the defendant is extremely ill. I do not think he is fit to attend court."

Mr Brooke said the defendant had faced a number of charges, but the Crown was reluctant not to offer evidence and for not guilty pleas to be recorded, as is usual in such cases.

He said: "This is regarded by the prosecution as an extreme set of offences which involved, at one point, a threat of a gun to keep the complainant quiet.

"She speaks of the devastating effect it has had on her life.

"We are reluctant to make that final step, of offering no evidence, because we feel we do have evidence."

Mr Worley's defence team said a doctor had concluded he was too ill after suffering two heart attacks and a stroke. Any further emotional stress could lead to a fatal attack.

Jamie Hill, for the defendant, said the defence team had written to the Attorney General to invite him to end the proceedings, but they had received no response.

He said he accepted it was not appropriate, in this case, for not guilty verdicts to be recorded.

Mr Worley, of Sutton Under Whitestonecliffe, near Thirsk, was not present at yesterday's hearing. He denied any wrong doing.

Outside court, Mr Worley's accuser, Heather Collinson, waived her right to anonymity to hit out at the decision.

The interior designer, who lives near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, said: "I am disappointed but I do understand he is elderly. I could not come forward before. I had to wait until he was old and frail.

"I urge any other victims of sexual abuse to come forward. It is a major thing to go to the police, but they should not be frightened."