Assault charge against Liverpool star dropped

Liverpool and England footballer Raheem Sterling had a charge of common assault dropped yesterday after two witnesses failed to turn up to court.

Sterling, 18, did not have to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court and the case was dismissed when prosecutor Rob Jones offered no evidence.

The Premier League star, who was born in Jamaica, had been accused of assaulting a woman in Toxteth, Liverpool, last November.

The teenager, reportedly paid £30,000 (€35,500) a week, had always denied the allegation and had hired top barrister Stuart Driver to defend him. His legal costs will now be paid for by the taxpayer so he would not be “out of pocket” the court heard.

The case had been before the court on three previous occasions, none of which the winger attended.

Yesterday, Sterling is understood to have waited in a car on a street around the corner from the court.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, Sterling’s agent and other club officials also waited in the car until news came from court that the case had been dropped.

Mr Jones told District Judge Richard Clancy that two witnesses, a Rachel Smith and a woman known only as Ms Hall, were contacted on Friday and the “expectation” was they would attend to give evidence — but neither had.

The court heard the allegation was of a minor common assault and it was not in the public interest to force alleged victims and witnesses to come to court for such a matter.