THE disappearance of a vital witness has led to a man being cleared of the theft of a valuable Samurai sword.
The prosecution at Worcester Crown Court offered no evidence against 35-year-old Neil Soley, of The Foxholes, Kidderminster.
He denied burglary of a flat in Derwent House, Hurcott Road, Kidderminster, and also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of receiving stolen goods.
Prosecutor Tariq Shakoor said the main witness in the case, Michael Collinson, had not been seen for some time.
He had moved home without leaving his new address and police thought there was no hope of finding him.
Mr Shakoor added: "Regrettably the Crown have taken the view that it is not in the public interest to prolong this case by seeking an adjournment." The £495 sword had been recovered.
Recorder Sybil Thomas said she was satisfied that all steps had been taken and she recorded a not guilty verdict.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article