A GAMEKEEPER cleared by a jury of threatening a dog-walker with a shotgun last night described the case as a seven month "nightmare".

David Thornton, 54, was alleged to have pointed his semi-automatic weapon at Steven Whitehouse after his run-away pet killed pheasants on a woodland estate last August.

The Bank Holiday confrontation, which involved a foul-mouthed argument, happened at a place called Hell Ghyll on the Bolton estate in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, a court heard.

Mr Thornton, from Darlington, denied being the aggressor during the row and claimed soldier Mr Whitehouse reacted angrily to being told off.

A jury at Teesside Crown Court - which acquitted the dad-of-two in just an hour - heard conflicting evidence about who lost their temper.

The Catterick soldier - who was walking with his wife and three dogs - denied launching a tirade of expletive-laden abuse at Mr Thornton.

It was alleged that he yelled "I'm in the f****** army, don't tell me what to do" when he was asked to keep his pets under control.

Mr Thornton said in his evidence that he asked for his name and details, and Mr Whitehouse shoved his warrant card in his face.

It was also "hotly disputed" he said: "I've been in Afghanistan fighting f****** like you."

Last night, Mr Thornton - a gamekeeper for 30 years - told how the case and the threat of a prison sentence had "added ten years to my life".

He thanked the jury of seven men and five women after they cleared him of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

"I'm just more than happy I've been vindicated for doing my job, a job I've done almost all my working life and a job I love," he said.

"I'm just pleased it's all over. It's been a nightmare for seven months. The verdict of the jury has given me my life back."

One of the couple's dogs was off its lead after swimming in a stream, and ran off when it heard the pheasants in a huge pen.

Mr Thornton described in his evidence how Henry the spaniel was "hoovering up" the birds, and fired a shot to make it stop its attack.

Mr Whitehouse was said to have yelled "don't shoot the dog, shoot me instead" and he claimed he and his wife were terrified for their lives.