PROSECUTORS today dropped charges against the deputy mayor of a North Yorkshire town accused of indecently assaulting a woman.

The announcement at York Crown Court today ended a four-month ordeal for long-serving councillor Jim Kench, 78, and his wife Molly, which began with his arrest last November.

"I had nothing to fear, but it has been a worry for both of us," he said outside the courtroom. "I didn't even know her (the alleged victim)."

The couple spoke of how numerous people had supported them since the allegations were made public, including fellow councillors and neighbours.

Coun Kench is deputy town mayor of Norton and has been a member of the council responsible for the Ryedale town for more than 40 years.

"We haven't stopped doing anything," said Coun Kench of the months since his arrest. "I could walk down the street with my head up in the air. We have never stopped going out."

His wife added that the couple had a list of people who would have been willing to act as character references for him had he faced a trial.

She has attended every one of his four court appearances, two before Scarborough magistrates, one before Pickering magistrates and the final one today.

At York Crown Court, Coun Kench, of Sutton Street, Norton, answered "not guilty" as the single charge of indecent assault was put to him. It was alleged to have been committed between July 1989 and December 1991.

Then prosecuting barrister, Nicholas Ralph, revealed that the Crown Prosecution Service had reviewed the evidence against him and decided not to take the case further.

The honorary recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, formally acquitted Coun Kench and he left court.

He and his wife did not plan a celebration as they wanted to put the matter behind them. But they were looking forward to a forthcoming council dinner, which he expected to be a celebration.

Updated: 12:20 Monday, March 10, 2003