MULTI-MILLIONAIRE George Reynolds' court battle with Cleveland Police ended in failure yesterday - and landed him with a £50,000 bill for costs.

But afterwards the Darlington Football Club chairman remained defiant, and said he believed the fight had been worth every penny.

The chipboard magnate sued Cleveland's Chief Constable Barry Shaw for alleged wrongful arrest, unlawful detention and malicious prosecution.

Yesterday, at the end of the Middlesbrough County Court hearing, Judge Michael Taylor ruled that officers had not exceeded their powers.

He said that Mr Reynolds had admitted during the week-long trial that Cleveland Police officers were right to arrest him. The judge also ruled that Mr Reynolds had failed to prove to him that the police acted improperly. Mr Reynolds sat with his head in his hands as the verdict was delivered.

The court had heard how Mr Reynolds was arrested on August 10, 1992, following a complaint from his then sister-in-law Tracy Brown.

The incident had arisen at the time of a bitter split from his wife, Karen Brown. Mr Reynolds said he had repeatedly informed the police of a "reign of terror" being waged by his wife's family.

The complaint had coincided with a custody hearing over his daughter. Mr Reynolds, who conducted his own case, told Judge Taylor that he believed the Brown family had orchestrated his arrest to keep him away from the court and that some police officers were in league with them.

Former safecracker Mr Reynolds, 64, who has amassed a £250m fortune from a kitchen worktop business after going straight, claimed some police officers were jealous of his success and had formed the opinion of him as "once a villain always a villain".

But while Judge Taylor expressed some sympathy for Mr Reynolds, he found that his case against Cleveland Police had failed on all three counts and that officers had good grounds to arrest, detain and prosecute him.

Awarding costs against Mr Reynolds, the judge said: "Those who play with fire are at risk of getting their fingers burned."

After the hearing, Mr Reynolds said: "I have had my day in court and it has been worth every penny. We have had tremendous support from the public." He added: "The judge has been very, very fair right throughout the hearing."

Durham Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Garvin, who was named in Mr Reynolds' action, said: "The claims levelled by Mr Reynolds in court were absolutely outrageous.

"Mr Reynolds made accusations of adultery, conspiracy, perverting the course of justice and of a police cover-up, as well as orchestrating a vendetta against him.

"All of these claims I, and the other officers, find personally offensive and had they been made in other circumstances - that's to say outside the protection afforded by the court - I would have sued Mr Reynolds.