THE grieving mother of Sean Stevens said her son can now rest in peace after a court dropped manslaughter charges against his friend.

Judge Robert Juckes QC returned a verdict of not guilty at Worcester Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday) after hearing that Sean and his friend Ryan Scott had been play fighting when the 17-year-old fell into the canal in Perdiswell.

Mr Stevens was rescued from the water by firefighters but was pronounced dead at Worcestershire Royal Hospital at 11.14pm on March 31.

Mr Scott, now aged 18 and living in Synehurst, Badsey, near Evesham, denied unlawfully killing his friend and the Crown was inviting a not guilty verdict as it was a "tragic accident".

Sean's mother Lucy Marshall has now asked for people to accept the court's findings.

She said: "I'm glad it's finally over.

"Now my son can rest in peace and Ryan can carry on living his life as he should.

"Everyone should accept the courts decision too.

"I hope that people will hold the good memories of Sean close to their hearts, as will I and Sean's family."

She also invited everyone to a fundraising event held in memory of her son Pershore Football Club on Saturday from 2.30pm start.

There will be a football match and competition followed by a disco.

Previously, she paid tribute to her son saying he "lived life to the fullest".

She said she would remember Mr Stevens as a very artistic young man, particularly for his love of music as he learned to play the acoustic and electric guitar.

Ms Marshall added: "He had a love of life and certainly lived it to its fullest always putting his friends before himself.

"He will be missed by many and remembered as a very cheeky lovable rogue."

Judge Robert Juckes QC delivered the verdict after being told by Mr Walters that Mr Stevens’s parents had shown “great composure” and, despite their grief, understood the reason for the decision to drop the charge.

Mr Walters described how Mr Stevens, Mr Scott - who was then also aged 17 - and a group of friends had been out during the evening in Worcester and were in “high spirits” after drinking a moderate amount.

Mr Stevens, who had attended Pershore High School, and Mr Scott had engaged in play fighting earlier in the night and they began “shadow boxing” later, when Mr Stevens was close to the Worcester to Birmingham canal in Bilford Road, Perdiswell, at about 8.50pm on March 31.

Mr Scott described to police how he had been shadow boxing and accidentally clipped Mr Stevens, who fell backwards into the canal.

Mr Walters said another friend put himself at risk by going down a ladder and into the water but Mr Stevens, who had been struggling to remain afloat and could not swim, went under.

Mr Walters said: “Death was due to drowning.

“There is no evidence of any significant assault or injury, although there was a slight cut to the right eye.

“Following a careful investigation it was found that two friends were both engaged in a little rough horseplay.

“Neither had any intent to cause harm to the other.”

Judge Juckes, after delivering his “not guilty” verdict, gave commiserations to Mr Stevens’s parents and added that “plainly the prosecution had reached the right decision.”

Mr Scott still faces charges of assaulting two police officers arising from events following the canal tragedy but Judge Juckes sent those matters back to the magistrates’ court.

Mr Scott was allowed bail with conditions, including a curfew from 8pm until 5am daily.