Graham O'Neil had pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to assaulting George Kershaw-Rae during an incident at his home in August last year.

O'Neil, 46, of Warwick Road, Longhay, Kineton, was due to stand trial later this year.

But the case was listed again after the prosecution decided to offer no evidence against him.

Prosecutor Richard Adams explained: "The reason is that following a detailed review of the evidence the Crown felt there was no reasonable prospect of conviction."

So Judge Charles Harris QC entered a not guilty verdict and ordered that O'Neil's costs should be paid from central funds.

During an earlier hearing Samantha Forsyth, defending, said the case involved "an incident at a party which a large number of youths gatecrashed at the defendant's home".

And she pointed out: "Some witnesses say they saw the defendant's son being attacked shortly before this alleged attack."

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