FORMER Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon has said a controversial deal to sell the town’s only Grade I-listed building was conducted with “absolute integrity”.

He was speaking out after a two-week employment tribunal heard claims that Mr Mallon had been heard on the telephone discussing a cut-price deal for Acklam Hall, which was eventually sold off for just £900,000.

Karen Whitmore, a former senior officer at Middlesbrough Council, also raised concerns at the tribunal about the sales of the town’s Training and Development Centre and the Arts Centre in Gilkes Street, to Mr Mallon’s former election agent Nasser Din.

But Mr Mallon has now denied any wrongdoing, saying: It is disappointing that character attacks of the nature we have heard at this tribunal can be made without any evidence being tendered to substantiate the claims.

“I am surprised that I have not been called as a witness at the proceedings, so that I could rebut the outrageous claims made by Ms Whitmore in bringing her case before the Tribunal.”

Middlesbrough independent councillor Jon Rathmell called for a formal complaint to be made after some of the evidence heard during the case, saying there had been “areas of concern” including documents given to the council’s scrutiny panel regarding the TAD centre, which he said were “incorrect”.

But Mr Mallon said he had never made a secret of the fact Mr Din was a close friend and campaign manager during elections.

He said: “Because of the potential conflict of interest I did not get involved in decision making where his dealings with the council were concerned.

“I am very familiar with conflicts of interest and the risks of being compromised, hence the reason for my position in relation to Nasser Din”

He said when Mike Robinson was appointed chief executive at the council, he had written to him and declared those friends of his who were also businessmen, to avoid any conflict.

He added: “Acklam Hall was worthless. It was falling apart. It would have cost thousands of pounds to maintain and would have cost taxpayers millions of pounds to repair.

“There is not a shred of evidence to indicate that any council officer or elected representative involved in the sale did anything wrong. The deal was conducted with absolute integrity and it is mischief making to suggest otherwise.

“People can dig as deep as they want, but they will continue to hit bedrock.”

He hit out at the “negative, mischievous individuals” who were raising concerns about the asset sales.