Court proceedings have ended for a man living near Breage after allegations against him were withdrawn.

Tom Oliver Bennett, from Polladras, a hamlet not far from Breage near Helston, had been due to stand trial on November 30 over charges of assault on a woman, which he had pleaded not guilty to. 

However, Truro Crown Court was told on Friday that statements made by the complainant had since been retracted.

Felicity Payne, acting on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, said that as a result no evidence was being offered against the 30-year-old.

She told the court: “Realistic conviction prospects no longer remain. I can formally offer no evidence against both counts.”

Ms Payne asked that the charges instead lie on file, which Judge Anna Richardson agreed to.

Judge Richardson told Bennett: “This is effectively the end of the proceedings as far as you’re concerned.”

She confirmed that previous bail conditions imposed by the courts no longer applied.