A man was cleared of making threats to kill – after a victim failed to attend the trial.

Peter Harris, 36, was due to stand trial at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday accused of making threats to kill and assaulting a woman by beating her.

But the prosecution were forced to offer no evidence after their key witness failed to turn up at court.

Judge Tom Rochford recorded formal not guilty verdicts and ordered that his travel to court – two train tickets totalling £27.40 – were paid from the public purse.

He told him: “You are free to go. I am glad that things between you and your former partner from what I have heard seem to be resolved. You understand whilst there was some argument in the background here, you need to understand where those things can lead.”

Harris, of Alma Road, Banbury, had been accused of threatening to kill a man in Banbury on May 27 last year and assaulting a woman.

Judge Rochford was told that efforts had been made to contact the alleged victim of the threats, but police only had a mobile number and did not have his current address. The officer in the case said calls to the man's phone were going through to voicemail.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on news@nqo.com or 01865 425 445.