Two men have been cleared of abducting a woman and committing sex offences in Rochester after the case against them was dropped.

Kyle Allen, 30, and Christopher Christou, 41, were charged with kidnap and assault by penetration in July 2015.

Allen, formerly of Symons Avenue, Chatham, now of Cantium Place, Snodland, was also accused of rape and sexual assault and Christou, of Shepherds Way, Lower Stoke, with assault by penetration and encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence by instructing Allen to behave in a sexual way.

A trial date had been set for February 19, but the prosecution offered no evidence at a brief hearing at Maidstone Crown Court today.

In a separate case, Allen has still be to sentenced for attempted arson and attacks on a woman.

He admitted assaulting Elycia Simmons causing her actual bodily harm between June 1 and 9 last year and his not guilty plea to inflicting grievous bodily harm was accepted.

He also admitted causing her actual bodily harm on July 22 and attempted arson, endangering lives, of a Mercedes car owned by Deborah Simmons on July 25.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC ordered a psychiatric report for April 23.

The prosecution also accepted Allen’s not guilty pleas to four other assault charges and one of fraud.