A man who was accused of repeatedly striking his partner with a mug has had the charge against him dropped, after his alleged victim retracted her complaint.

Lee Rawlings had been due to stand trial at Swindon Crown Court in February after pleading not guilty to actual bodily harm.

But after the woman withdrew her support prosecutors said there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction, and offered no evidence.

David Richards, for the Crown, said "The complainant has retracted her complaint. The circumstances involved her allegedly being struck around the head with a mug. The Crown have come to the view they can't prove the case and I offer no evidence."

Rawlings, 29, of Court Orchard, Bratton, had pleaded not guilty to assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm on Saturday, September 15.

It had been alleged he struck her four times leaving her needing six stitches to a cut.

He had been due to stand trial in and had been on bail, with conditions he stayed out of Devizes and abide by a tagged curfew.

Judge Robert Pawson entered a formal not guilty verdict on Rawlings, who was not required in court for the hearing.