A MAN has been formally cleared of inflicting grievous bodily harm in an alleged attack dating back more than 21 months.

Nico Todd was accused of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily on another man, stemming from an incident in Front Street, Leadgate, near Consett, on September 26, 2019.

The injured party suffered a fractured jaw and a broken nose after it was said he was repeatedly punched.

He was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries.

The 25-year-old defendant, of Mill Road, Stockton, formerly from the Consett area, denied the charge at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court, on March 15.

A trial date was agreed to be staged one day this week at the court.

But when the case came before Judge James Adkin yesterday, prosecution counsel Paul Caulfield said his instructions from the case lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) were to offer “no evidence”.

Judge Adkin said: “Mere reluctance by prosecution witnesses to come to court didn’t used to be a reason to drop a case.”

He asked why the Crown was not seeking to pursue a prosecution in a case where there was, “moderately serious violence”.

Mr Caulfield said: “The appropriate decision has been made at managerial level at the CPS and my instructions are to offer ‘no evidence’.”

Judge Adkin, therefore, said: “As you have offered ‘no evidence’, I’ll pass a not guilty verdict in this case.”