A fundraising drive has helped raise £21,000 to pay the legal fees of an elderly farmer cleared of GBH after shooting an intruder in the foot.
83-year-old farmer Kenneth Hugill was cleared of grievous bodily harm in just 24 minutes by a jury at Hull Crown Court.
His lawyer, Nick Freeman, wanted to help Hugill pay his legal fees after the 16-month wrangle.
Mr Freeman felt so strongly about the case that he set up a crowdfunding page.
Mr Freeman is also campaigning to change the law, a change he calls Hugill's Law, so people are not left in the position Mr Hugill was when he was looking at paying back a five-figure sum over 20 to 30 years.
Legal system a 'disgrace'
Writing on the page he created, Mr Freeman branded "the current legal system is a disgrace" adding that the outcome was "not justice" and that the farmer "should never have been prosecuted".
He said: "In my view he should never have been prosecuted because the evidence I read in the media never supported the contention that there was more than a 50% chance of conviction...
"I'm sure there are plenty of people who felt as equally incensed as I did after reading about the case, and will be happy to spare a few pounds in helping this hard-working family in their hour of financial need."
The farmer told The Daily Mail: "I was more than surprised. People from all over the country wrote to us.
"We've had at least 70 letters, private letters just wishing us good luck, pleased we've got away and all that. It's been overwhelming."
