A CAR salesman accused of stealing money and motors from his firm before trying to frame his former boss has been cleared.

Michael Willas, 32, was said to have taken almost £6,000 and two Vauxhall cars from SG Petch Ltd, in Langley Moor, County Durham.

He was also charged with trying to intimidate a witness into not giving evidence against him but instead naming his former boss.

His trial was halted last week and he was cleared of some charges. His case was brought back before a judge at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday where he was cleared of the rest.

Mr Willas, of Cheviot Terrace, Stanley, County Durham, was found not guilty of witness intimidation, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice in September and October last year.

He was also cleared of four charges of theft in February last year.