FORMER policeman Bob Gardiner was left "a broken man" after his bid to market a defence spray fell foul of the law.

The former Durham Police sergeant poured his savings into marketing an anti-attack spray.

But, following a lengthy legal fight, he admitted yesterday that the spray emitted by the Feel Safe canister could be classed a noxious substance.

In December 1997 he was acquitted on a judge's direction at Durham Crown Court. But he appeared before the court again this week to answer similar charges.

Gardiner, 53, of South Way, Lanchester, pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing a prohibited weapon. A formal not guilty verdict was recorded on a second charge of selling or transferring such a device.

The court was told that within weeks of the 1997 hearing, police seized 4,904 canisters from his car in Staffordshire.

David Callan, prosecuting, said analysis at Porton Down defence establishment revealed the spray contained traces of noxious chemicals.

Anthony Braithwaite, for Gardiner, told the court that the legal fight had left Gardiner "a broken man" who has received psychiatric treatment for depression.

Gardiner was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,000 costs.