Christopher Judd, who was accused of threatening to destroy his house during the stand-off with police, has been cleared of all charges.

The judge ordered a jury to clear Christopher Judd, 44, of any wrongdoing - and condemned the authorities' "lamentable" handling of the situation.

But the Derbyshire force said the incident had been dealt with in accordance with police policies and procedures - and said there had been a successful resolution to a very challenging situation.

Derby Crown Court heard how the incident began at 3am on July 7 last year when Judd refused to leave his home when officers arrived to arrest him.

Police went to the property, in Overdale, following reports that he had brandished a screwdriver and threatened a man in the street.

Judd was allegedly seen pouring petrol, flicking lighters and carrying weapons - including an axe and a large blade - as the siege continued.

Esther Harrison, prosecuting, claimed he sent friends text-messages including "Come and see the fireworks" and "It's a good day to die".

Eight nearby homes were evacuated as firefighters, police, National Grid officials and the media descended on the scene, the jury was told.

When the stand-off finally ended Judd told officers he wanted to expose them for failing to deal with a string of attacks on him and his home.

Miss Harrison told Derby Crown Court it was true some youths had "picked on" him and damaged his property because of his "eccentric habits".

He felt "persecuted" by certain people on the estate who he believed targeted him because of his long hair and the way he dressed.

He was also picked on after he was quizzed over reports of a man trying to entice children back to his home with sweets, the jury was told.

Judd denied affray and threatening to destroy or damage his home in a way that would endanger lives, insisting he never intended any harm.

Directing the jury to acquit him, Recorder Shaun Smith QC condemned Derbyshire police's response to the incident as "over-the-top".

He said: "If they had dealt with this in a more sympathetic way we would not have had the siege of Matlock blazed all over the newspapers."

Supt Paul Rouse, operations manager for the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales: "The police on the night were faced with a very difficult and highly volatile situation and had a duty to consider both the safety of Mr Judd as well as that of the general public.

"The incident was dealt with in accordance with police policies and procedures and whilst this was protracted, the fact that the incident was resolved with no injury being caused to any person indicates a successful resolution to a very challenging situation.

"We will look at the circumstances surrounding the events that day and see if there are any lessons to be learnt."

Recorder Smith's ruling represented the second time in just months that the trial had collapsed, following an aborted hearing earlier this year.

On that occasion the case had to be halted after it emerged the jury might be "contaminated" by information not heard in evidence.

Speaking after Thursday's hearing, Judd said: "The last year has been very long and tiring for both myself and my friends and family.

"Today is a victory for the small man and shows that in many circumstances the heavy-handed tactics of the police escalate situations."