A POLICE watchdog was considering its options last night after an attempted murder trial collapsed because officers unlawfully searched a solicitor’s home.

Durham Police referred the case, which involved five people accused of plotting to shoot a man in the back with a shotgun, to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) yesterday, after it was thrown out of Newcastle Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard that police examined confidential files during a search of the home of Paul Donoghue, a lawyer representing some of the accused, and eavesdropped on a conversation between Mr Donoghue and a suspect.

Deputy High Court Judge Sir Geoffrey Grigson branded the conduct of officers as cavalier and said it had “seriously undermined the rule of law”.

Yesterday, an IPCC spokeswoman said: “We are gathering information and deploying investigators to carry out an initial assessment.

“We will then make a decision as to what level of involvement the IPCC should have in any investigation.”

A Durham Police spokesman said: “It would be totally wrong for police officers, in the course of a detailed and thorough investigation into an attempted murder, to ignore any wrondoing that could be connected to the crime.

“The public would expect nothing less from us, and we believe this was acknowledged by the judge at Newcastle Crown Court.

“Obviously the judgement passed at Newcastle Crown Court which halted the trial was a bitter blow, not only for the victim and his family, but also for us as investigators.

“It should be clear that this case remains open.

“This investigation is not closed and although we are not seeking anyone else in connection with the shooting, it will be vigorously pursued if new evidence comes to light.”

Five people had faced charges in connection with the shooting of Joe Clarke in Consett, County Durham, shortly before Christmas 2007.

All of them walked free from court after the case collapsed.