Council chiefs were today criticised by a judge for using public money to take a man to court for restoring part of a medieval building in Shropshire.

Mr Bjorn Teksnes, the Norwegian owner of Old Colehurst Manor, near Market Drayton, appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court today to face two charges of carrying out work without authority on a listed barn next to his black and white Elizabethan mansion.

But Judge Robin Onions stopped trial proceedings and ordered the charges against Mr Teksnes to lie on file as he had already been cautioned over the work.

He also ordered each party to pay their own legal costs, leaving North Shropshire District Council taxpayers to foot the “substantial” bill for the fruitless enforcement.

Judge Onions said: “A crown court trial would not have benefited anybody.

“Unless entrepreneurs are prepared to come in and invest money then these types of buildings just rot.

“Each party should bear their own costs and I expect the council’s costs are likely to be substantial.”

The court heard how the district council’s development control committee had yesterday granted planning permission for Mr Teksnes to carry out the work to the timber-framed barn building next to the 16th century manor.

He has been embroiled in a planning row over changes he made to the Grade-II listed complex, once visited by King Charles I.

Speaking outside court Mr Teksnes said: “It’s a complete scandal because I met with the council last July but they never told me I had done wrong.

“It was clear today that the judge didn’t want this coming to court.”

Mr Teksnes, a civil engineer and former golf professional, and his wife Maria snapped up the estate in 1996 and spent years restoring it.

It now boasts a banqueting hall and 12 bedrooms and is a wedding and entertainments venue. It is on the market for £1.4 million.

A spokesman for North Shropshire District Council today said: “This case has detailed a serious breach of planning control and we were compelled to proceed with the prosecution.

“The council is satisfied with the outcome and will not pursue further prosecution.”

By Tom Johannsen and Andrew Rogers