A businessman who employed a private detective to clear his name has told of his 20 months of hell living in the shadow of an attempted murder charge.

Father-of-nine Paul Baker, 50, had to give up running The Pullman pub, Cressing, and saw work at his contract cleaning business virtually disappear overnight after he was charged.

But when his case came up at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday, the prosecution offered no evidence against him and he was cleared.

A judge has called for an inquiry and Mr Baker is threatening to sue the police.

Mr Baker, of Ranulph Way, Hatfield Peverel, said after the case: "The last 20 months have been absolute hell for me and my family.

"When I found I had been cleared, people expected me to jump up and down but I've been through so much that it was difficult.

"I have been suffering from depression and been on the dole because no-one wants to employ you when you're on an attempted murder charge. I'm now left picking up the pieces."

He said: "My friends say I was always laughing and smiling but that I'm now a misery.

"When I was arrested and charged I lost everything. My cleaning company, which employed 68 people, went and so did the pub because I had to live in Norfolk as part of the bail conditions.

"But when I let it all go, I didn't care. I was so depressed and bewildered that I was just concentrating on survival."

His wife Sandra was left to look after four young children on her own and they had to fight off bailiffs after falling behind with mortgage repayments.

Mr Baker said: "We've had to support each other, cry on each other's shoulders, and the ordeal has inevitably put a strain on the marriage."

He had been originally charged with attempting to murder Alan Harrison, the former landlord of the Spread Eagle pub, Braintree, on September 13, 1997.

This charge was later reduced to attempted grievous bodily harm and the case was due to be heard at crown court next week.

But when the case was mentioned in court, the prosecution offered no evidence and Mr Baker was formally cleared on the charge and a not guilty verdict was entered.

Judge Michael Yelton said: "It is not a happy state of affairs in my opinion.

"The Crown is absolutely right not to go ahead with this and the worrying aspect is I have been told there has been a complaint about the way the police investigated this matter."

He added: "A witness who gave a different account was not interviewed prior to him going to Australia but, more importantly, statements have now been provided which tend to suggest a criminal offence may have been committed by one or more persons in relation to the original statements.

"It is something which should be looked at," Judge Yelton said.

And Mr Baker's barrister, Andre de Moller said the whole matter had been a "horrendous experience" for his client.

"He was originally charged with attempted murder and this matter has hung over his head for 20 months. It was a most unfortunate and regrettable experience for him," Mr de Moller said.

Essex Police said there would be an internal review of the case. It said: "We need to ensure that all procedures were followed and whether there are any lessons that can be learned."

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