Michael Caney, who found himself in the dock after confronting thugs who were wrecking a Sunderland church garden, wants the Government to do more for people who stand up for their community.

"The law should be changed, without a doubt," he said.

"There should be more protection for the likes of myself and other innocent people going about their own business."

Michael, 54, said he would now think twice about standing up to yobs as he did when he took his family to St Joseph's Church hall, in Millfield, which saw him charged with grievous bodily harm and assault.

The Caney family spent a torturous 10 months worrying about the outcome of the affair, which ended at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday when Michael and his son Barry, who was also charged, were cleared.

Michael, from High Barnes, wiped away a tear and thanked the jury after the verdicts were delivered.

Outside court the former mechanic said: "This was an alien experience for all of us, we have never been in any trouble before, any of the family."

His wife Beverley, who witnessed the confrontation, said: "We have lived with this for 10 months now.

"It has been a cloud over all of our lives. We are just very, very happy it's all over now.

"We were just looking after our own really, we were trying to protect church property, trying to protect our property and ourselves."

The family celebrated their victory with friends and supporters at St Joseph's church hall last night, wher Mr and Mrs Caney have both been on the parish committee for three years..

The court had heard Michael had spotted a garden, planted by parishioners in memory of a late priest, being "ripped apart" by youths.

He said he was met with foul insults and pelted with stones when he told the gang to stop and leave the church grounds.

And after the violence that followed Michael, who is in ill health, found himself in court.

He had told jurors he wanted to scare the gang away and started swinging a metal pole in a bid to disperse them.

Prosecutors claimed he hit two 15-year-olds with a metal pole, causing one of them to lose eight teeth.

Barry Caney, a 26-year-old shopfitter, was accused of assault after stepping in to protect his dad.

Both told police they acted in self-defence, and were yesterday cleared of all charges brought against them.