Prosecutors dropped charges against a man accused of assaulting his ex – after she withdrew her support for the prosecution.
Kareem Foster, 29, of Lambourne Road, Oxford, had been accused of threatening to kill his former partner and assaulting her in Oxford on August 24 last year.
He was due to stand trial at Oxford Crown Court later this year.
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But on Friday, prosecutor Bethan Rogers told Judge Michael Gledhill QC that the Crown had reviewed the case and planned to offer no evidence to support the prosecution.
There had been a number of attempts to serve witness summons on the alleged victim, which would have required her to come to court to give evidence.
“The complainant’s father has made active efforts to prevent the police from having any contact with her,” she added.
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It was ‘with regret’ that the prosecution was being dropped.
Having been told that the Crown was offering no evidence, Judge Gledhill formally recorded not guilty verdicts.
Foster, who has been in prison on remand awaiting his trial, was told that ‘that was the end of these proceedings’ and he would be released from the crown court cells later on Friday afternoon.
However, the judge imposed a restraining order banning contact between Foster and his former partner.
Gordana Austin appeared for Foster at the short, five minute hearing on Friday.
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