A MAN accused of raping a young girl 30 years ago has had the charges against him dropped. Michael Ashmore was accused of repeatedly abusing the child between 1980 and 1982.

The 47-year-old had been charged with two counts of rape of a female under 16 and eight of indecent assault on a female under 14.

But prosecutors at Swindon Crown Court withdrew the allegations before they could be formally put to Ashmore, of Pembroke Gardens, Moredon.