THE owner of historic Windlestone Hall claims he has been the victim of a "witch-hunt" by the authorities after buying the 30-bedroom mansion for just £241,000.

In an exclusive interview, William Davenport, who purchased the grade II* listed mansion near Bishop Auckland in 2012, has urged police to "put up or shut up" after spending almost a year on bail following his arrest on suspicion of fraud.

Mr Davenport was questioned by Durham Police in November last year in connection with a mortgage taken out on the property to pay for renovations, but has not been charged.

The conditions of his bail mean he has to report to a police station once a week and is not allowed to spend the night away from Windlestone - a situation the businessman claims breaches his human rights.

Mr Davenport denies doing anything wrong, adding that police have confirmed they are not investigating whether he bribed council officials as has been rumoured.

He said in the weeks after his arrest he was also visited by the RSPCA after the charity received reports he was miss-treating his horses and officials from social services regarding his family.

The owner said both issues were prompted by malicious complaints and were further evidence he was being victimised.

He added: "There's been a witch-hunt - the story has been spun from the council being the fools who sold the hall too cheaply to an authority that was duped by a dastardly conman.

"It needs to stop. The police need to put up or shut up - they need to charge me or call it a day.

"I've been on bail now for more than 320 days and that's just not fair."

Durham County Council was strongly criticised for selling the hall to Mr Davenport for £241,000 when the authority had been offered £1.5m for the property several years earlier, but the sale was cleared by independent auditors.

Mr Davenport said his offer came after the dilapidated property had been available for six years.

In a bid to highlight the dilapidated condition of the hall, Mr Davenport has released photographs of the interior taken shortly after he bought the mansion.

"In those six years anyone could have put in an bid. It was in an appalling state when we bought it. The family worked like Trojans to renovate it and we've spent a lot of money.

"The last year has been extremely unpleasant for me and my family. I just wish I had never found the property on the internet and I wish when I drove up the drive for the first time I had turned around and drove away."

A spokeswoman for Durham Police said a file had been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which would decide whether charges should be brought against Mr Davenport.

She said the 58-year-old businessman, who has now been on bail for more than a year after being arrested on suspicion of fraud, remained on bail until November 4.

Durham County Council declined to comment.

Mr Davenport is embroiled in a bitter legal battle with Northumberland businessman Garry Moat, who says he is the legal owner of the land surrounding the hall after completing the purchase in December last year.

Windlestone Hall has been described by English Heritage as one of the region's most important historic buildings.

The property is the former family home of 1950s Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden.