by Julia Roberts and Hayley Robinson

A former carnival princess has spoken of her relief at being formally cleared of stealing cash.

Rachel Booker-Pook had been accused of taking £130 from The Magic Wok Chinese restaurant in the High Street on August 23 last year.

The 19-year-old, formerly of Watling Place, Sittingbourne, denied theft and was due to stand trial at Maidstone Crown Court this week.

However, during a brief hearing on Monday the Crown Prosecution Service formally offered no evidence and the charge was dropped.

Miss Booker-Pook, who appeared in court on crutches due to a dislocated knee, celebrated the news by going to the pub for a drink.

She said: "I'm extremely pleased that finally the truth has come out.

"I was angry and frustrated when they charged me and it started going through the courts.

"It really got to me and it really hurt because people were criticising me and they didn't know the full facts.

"However, some people stood by me right from the start because they knew there was no evidence against me.

"I'm really relieved and now I can focus on looking after my horse Murphy who I got four weeks ago."

The teenager originally hit the headlines in March last year after being slapped with an Asbo for being drunk and disorderly in Sittingbourne town centre.

Under the order, she couldn't be in a group of more than three people younger than 21 and was not allowed to enter the Forum shopping centre.

Now living with her dad Ray Booker, at his home in Faversham, Miss Booker-Pook says she is still determined to turn her life around and leave the past behind her.

She said: "I'm hoping to go back to college in September to study public services as I've completed level two and got a distinction and I'm still doing my Open University diploma in psychology.

"I want to make sure my education is on track and I still maintain that I am turning things around."