A SUSPECT has been cleared of sexually assaulting a woman in a bar.

Lawin Abdel was accused of committing the offence, to which it is alleged the complainant did not consent, in January last year.

The charge alleged that the 22-year-old, formerly of Daresbury Park Hotel, but now of Wilbur Street in Sutton, St Helens, sexually assaulted a woman in Warrington.

He appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court in July last year where he was asked to enter a plea.

Assisted by a Kurdish interpreter, he confirmed his name, date of birth and address, that he understood the allegation he was facing, and then pleaded not guilty.

Brief circumstances of the allegation were outlined by Clare Oliver, prosecuting, who said that the alleged incident occurred in Reef bar in Warrington town centre.

Abdel was alleged to have been on the dancefloor at the Bridge Street venue at around 5.30am along with the complainant.

It was alleged that the defendant placed his hands on her waist and repeatedly touched her buttocks.

It was further alleged that she moved his hands away, but he ‘again placed them on her bottom and then swiped between her legs over her clothing’.

The Crown Prosecution said the trial was suitable to take place in the magistrates’ court, but Abdel elected to have the trial heard by a jury at the crown court.

The trial tool place before Liverpool Crown Court in April, with the jury failing to reach a verdict on which they all agreed on two counts of sexual assault.

The case was listed back before the crown court on Thursday for a mention hearing, with Abdel not required to attend, but represented by Brenden Carver, defending.

Prosecutor Kate Morley said: “Following consultation with the complainant and police, a decision has been reached not to seek a retrial.

“I therefore offer no evidence.”

As a result, judge Denis Watson said: “In that case, I will record not guilty verdicts.

“Thank you very much for taking the time for seeking consultation with all parties, and I understand the decision.”

The decision was explained after the hearing by senior district crown prosecutor Jonathan Egan, head of the crown court unit for the Crown Prosecution Service in the Mersey and Cheshire region.

He said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has a duty to continuously review all of its cases.

"New material was recently brought to our attention in this case and has now been assessed.

"We concluded that, in light of this new material, there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction, and so the prosecution offered no evidence and the judge directed that the defendant be found not guilty.

"After consultations with the police, counsel and the victim, it has been decided that the CPS will not pursue a retrial in this case."