A businessman and one-time candidate of the Legislative Council has been cleared of misappropriating funds from two companies.

Andrew Gray Hardy, aged 48, of Andreas Road, Ramsey, was charged with four counts of falsifying records and three of theft.

But on Tuesday the charges against Mr Hardy were withdrawn with prosecuting advocate Roger Kane saying the file had been reviewed and did not meet the evidential threshold.

Defence advocate Dawn Jones said legal advice should have been taken before charges were laid, adding: ’He would never have appeared in court and his name would never have appeared in the paper.’

Mr Kane said the prosecution had only received the file after charges had been laid and whilst there is no hard rule that a case should be subject to legal advice, this was a case which would have benefitted from advice.

All charges against Mr Hardy were withdrawn and the case was adjourned until October 12 for legal costs to be established.