A MAN who had been accused of sexually abusing a young boy more than 30 years ago has had the charges against him dropped.
William Orford, 60, had pleaded not guilty to carried out a serious sexual assault on the lad when he was aged seven or eight years old in 1982 or 1983.
Orford also denied indecent assault of the youngster during the same 18 month period and had been due to face trial at Swindon Crown Court.
But, after hearing the complainant had told different stories to different people about what he said happened, prosecutors said there was not a realistic prospect of conviction.
Judge Peter Blair QC returned formal not guilty verdicts on Orford, of Hythe Road, Old Town, who was not present or required in court to hear the case being dropped.
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