EX-CIVIC leader Rod Hills walked free from court yesterday after being cleared of blackmailing a former prostitute lover.

The 55-year-old York University lecturer smiled jubilantly as he emerged and told waiting reporters: "I am glad it is all over."

But a question mark now hangs over his once high-flying career in local politics in the wake of his nightmare six months since he was first arrested.

Mr Hills, who was awarded the CBE in 1999 for services to local government, was the Labour leader of York for nearly 20 years but was replaced and suspended from the party following his arrest.

Yesterday, he was cleared of blackmailing Miss X by allegedly threatening to send sexually explicit photographs of them to her parents.

He was found not guilty after the prosecution at Newcastle Crown Court offered no evidence on the second day of legal argument.

Mr Hills, of Huntingdon Road, York, had denied demanding the return of £2,325 and a Mazda car from Miss X.

The case ended after defence barrister Paul Worsley raised suggestions that the charge was brought because of a police witch hunt - a suggestion the police denied.

Earlier, Mr Justice Hooper had been told that Mr Hills had bought a coat for his lover, a former heroin-user, for her birthday last year. He had already paid her ex-boyfriend £1,000 to leave the country and another £1,300 towards the cost of a drug detoxification clinic, and had provided Miss X with a Mazda car.

After Miss X received the coat, she telephoned to thank him, then said their relationship was over. The court heard that Mr Hills became angry and allegedly threatened to send the sexually explicit pictures to her parents and her new boyfriend.

However, the judge was told Mr Hills apologised to Miss X for the alleged threat soon after the incident.And despite Miss X not repaying the money, the photographs had not been passed on.

Afterwards Mr Hills said: "I pay great tribute to my friends who have given me a lot of support and kindness."

The police and the City of York Council declined to comment after the case.

Mr Hills was widowed in 2000 when his wife died in a fall at their home.