City bosses have shelved a bid to prosecute a Liverpool man over the state of a derelict house sandwiched between dilapidated buildings owned by the council.

 They had been attempting to take criminal proceedings against John Davey over the property in Everton Road.

 The Grade II listed building, which was built in the 1830s as a home for a sea captain, is run down and in need of repair.

 But Mr Davey, a pharmacist, said the council had made no effort to repair its own derelict buildings next door and nearby.

 He added his building experts had said the townhouse he bought from the council in 2001 intending to turn it into a health centre was in such a dangerous state that no-one should go inside it.

 The council’s own experts said they feared the building could collapse and might have to close the pavement.

 At Dale Street Magistrates Court yesterday, a deal was reached and Mr Davey agreed to start work on the building. If he does he will not face prosecution for the state of the house, which was put on the council’s ‘At Risk’ register in response to the ECHO’s Stop The Rot campaign.

 He added that the building next to his, owned by the council, was in a terrible state and not secured. As a result, he said, drug addicts were getting access to his property and leaving syringes and other mess everywhere.

 Mr Davey said the council’s own building was also being used as “a doss house”.

 But council sources said their own property, while not in a good state, was not considered dangerous.

 Mr Davey said: “The council had not secured their perimeter whatsoever so all my work was constantly being undermined and frustrated. But they weren’t going to prosecute themselves, were they?” The council said maintaining public safety was a major concern, as well as the wider regeneration of the area. And it insisted it had regularly cleaned up fly-tipping and kept its site secure.

A spokesman added: “This building has continued to fall into disrepair despite repeated efforts by the council to engage with the owner.

 “We are pleased that, following a court hearing, Mr Davey has now agreed to undertake to carry out the works to make the building safe.”

 “The case has been adjourned for three weeks to allow him time to start this essential work.”