A MAN who claims he was assaulted by a vicar during a row over a hedge is preparing to launch a civil action.

The allegations involving the Reverend Stuart Bennett date from December 2008 and are claimed to have happened hours after the former policeman conducted Sunday service in Castleside, near Consett, County Durham.

Mr Bennett made a complaint of assault against neighbour Brian Stokoe, who countered that it was he who was the victim of assault.

Both were initially arrested but, with two differing accounts, a decision was taken not to prosecute.

Mr Stokoe then launched a private prosecution against Mr Bennett, 49, but the Crown Prosecution Service intervened and halted it due to lack of evidence.

Last night, Mr Stokoe, 59, told The Northern Echo that he has instructed his solicitors to take civil action against Mr Bennett.

“I want to clear my name because I have lived in this village for over 20 years and there are people who believe I assaulted their vicar,” he said.

In a letter to Mr Stokoe’s solicitors, Foley Harrison, explaining the decision to discontinue the prosecution, Christopher Enzor, chief crown prosecutor, said: “There clearly was an incident.

“In brief, Mr Stokoe states that, following a knock at his door, he followed Mr Bennett to the edge of his driveway whereupon he was assaulted by Mr Bennett, the latter using an asp (an extendible metal baton).

“Mr Stokoe said he was struck twice, once on the arm and once on the knee.

But then managed to wrestle the asp from Mr Bennett.

“Mr Stokoe then claims he was punched twice to the face, knocking him down.”

Mr Enzor wrote that, when interviewed under caution, Mr Bennett claimed “he was pushed from behind by Mr Stokoe and was punched to the head and that he managed to strike back with at least one punch.

“He denied he had any weapon, although he did have a dog lead.

“Evidence from Mrs Bennett is that Mr Bennett was on the ground and that Mr Stokoe was standing over her husband.”

Mr Enzor said there was evidence of injuries to both men, but that there could not be a realistic prospect of conviction.

Mr Bennett said last night: “It rears its ugly head again. I won’t know where I stand until I have spoken to a solicitor.”

Mr Bennett lives with wife, Yvonne, and their ten-year-old son, and has been granted early retirement from the minsitry on the grounds of ill health.