A man accused of threatening to "blow away" his brother in a feud over their grandmother's will was cleared yesterday.

Judge Richard Brown told Lewes Crown Court he would not get involved in a family dispute.

The judge stepped in to stop the case as Gareth Reast, 38, continued to give evidence.

The jury was sent out but when they were called back in, Judge Brown told the court: "This is a family dispute about where granny should have left her worldly goods."

He told them the case was going to be abandoned and Peter Reast, 51, of Hanover Terrace, Brighton, was found not guilty of blackmail.

On the first day of the trial the court was told how Gareth, the youngest of four brothers and a sister, had been left most of their grandmother Esther's estate, with the three other brothers receiving £500 and their older sister getting nothing.

The court heard earlier how, on July 27 last year, Peter had knocked on Gareth's front door at 2am demanding £30,000 before threatening to kill him, his wife and two young children.

Gareth Reast told jurors he did not take the threat seriously until he remembered his brother had an antique shotgun.

Under cross-examination by Paul Rogers, defending, Gareth admitted he only decided to go to the police on reflection and that at the time he thought his brother was "rambling" and "incoherent" when he turned up on his doorstep.

Mr Rogers said: "You have told this jury there were half a dozen threats but you mention only two in your police statement.

"Are you making it up? Are you trying to make your brother's life more difficult because you don't get on with him?"

Gareth replied: "No. At the time I didn't remember everything."

He said he stood by everything he said.

The jury had heard how Gareth had tried to recreate his dead grandmother's presence by laying her clothes out on her favourite chair.

Gareth said he was so upset at her death that he had hung her stockings down in her shoes.

He said: "It was an act of catharsis. I wanted to have a final cup of tea with her and a final chat, as I knew I wouldn't be going back to her bungalow again."

He said he felt he had lost not just a grandmother but a mother as they had become "exceptionally close over the years".

Soon after, Judge Brown stepped in after receiving a note from the jury.

He said he felt it was inappropriate for the case to be held in a criminal court.

He said: "In light of the circumstances, we have taken the view not to carry on with what is in effect a family argument."

A look of relief swept over Peter Reast's face as he left the dock a free man.

He made no comment afterwards.