Albert Dryden death: Man who shot dead council worker on live TV in planning row dies months after being released from jail

A man who shot dead a council worker on live TV in a row over planning permission has died less than a year after being released from prison, according to reports.

Albert Dryden killed planning officer Harry Collinson in front of a speechless camera crew and police officers after work began to demolish his illegally built bungalow in 1991.

The murderer died in a residential home in County Durham on Saturday morning, the Northern Echo reported.

He had previously suffered a stroke and could no longer talk.

He was released from prison last October after serving 26 years for the killing outside his home in Butsfield, a village about 10 miles west of Durham.

He had built his bungalow without planning permission and became embroiled in a bitter dispute with Derwentside District Council.

He argued he did not need consent as the home was built in a hollow and only the roof was visible, but the council disagreed and ordered its demolition.

Mr Collinson, 46, the council’s chief planning officer, was shot dead by Dryden in scenes broadcast live on the BBC’s Look North news programme.

Durham County Councillor Alex Watson, who was the council’s leader at the time, told the Northern Echo on Monday: "You cannot excuse him for what he did, but he was a proud man and all he wanted was to build his house and live in the countryside on his own and not harm anybody.

“It was not planned, but the way he saw it, he was defending his castle.”

He added: “He asked to see me about three weeks ago. He asked a friend to get me to see him so I went. I had not previously.

“It was a facial expression that gave that showed he was regretful. He could not talk. It was in his eyes.

“I went through photographs with him. In his own way he expressed his regret. He has paid the penalty now. I think he was trying to make his peace."