CRIMINAL proceedings instigated by a brother against two of his siblings and a nephew have ended after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to pursue convictions.

The prosecution was initially brought by Christopher Shepherd, against his brothers Paul and Raymond and nephew Tony Leigh Shepherd.

It follows a long-running row over ownership and potential sale of the family’s 64-acre holding, West Musgrave Farm, at St Helen Auckland, County Durham.

Christopher Shepherd, who lives in Scotland, alleged Paul Shepherd forged a business tenancy agreement in an effort to claim ownership of the site, witnessed by Raymond and Tony Leigh Shepherd.

But after proceedings began at Durham Crown Court earlier this year, the CPS agreed to take over the prosecution.

During several listings of the case, counsel for the defendants applied to have proceedings dismissed.

Nigel Soppitt, for the Crown, told yesterday's (Monday December 22) latest hearing: “All the evidence has now been reviewed.

“It involves conspiracy allegations over a tenancy signed some time ago.

“After reviewing the evidence, the Crown has come to the conclusion there is no realistic prospect of a conviction and it’s our intention to offer no evidence against these three defendants.”

But as pleas have never been taken during the proceedings, Judge Christopher Prince asked for the indictment to be drawn up and formally put to the trio.

Paul Shepherd, 57, formerly of West Musgrave Farm, 59-year-old Raymond Shepherd, of Burnside Cottages, Rookhope, County Durham, and Tony Shepherd, 27, of Front Street, Winston, near Darlington, all denied conspiracy to defraud Christopher Shepherd of his right of possession of the farm, between May 2006 and May 2011, by forging a lease and using it in the course of a waste management business.

Following the ‘not guilty’ pleas, Mr Soppitt confirmed the formal offer of “no evidence”.

Judge Prince, therefore, recorded ‘not guilty’ verdicts relating to all three defendants.

Following an application by defence barristers, travel costs covering all hearings in the case were awarded to the defendants, while a costs’ order to cover what would have been available in legal aid were awarded to Tony Shepherd.

Christopher Shepherd and his sister Joanne Long, have subsequently been granted vacant possession of the land, following civil court proceedings.

The court was told he (Christopher Shepherd) was informed of the CPS decision not to pursue criminal convictions and left prior to the case being heard yesterday (Monday December 22).