A PENSIONER who was accused of repeatedly abusing a teenage girl has had the charges against him dropped after the youngster became anxious about waiting for the trial.

The girl was just 15 years old when she made a statement to police two years ago alleging Melvyn Carter, 69, had repeatedly abused her during the previous two years.

But the case only came before a judge at Swindon Crown Court in February this year when the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The case was set down for a trial to be heard by a jury in August, but that had to be adjourned because there wasn't a suitable judge to hear it.

Now the youngster has asked for the matter to be dropped as she has become anxious about waiting for it to come back to court.

Carter, of Farleigh View, Lower Westwood, Bradford on Avon, pleaded not guilty to four multi-incident counts of sexual activity with a child.

And he also denied a further charge of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

All of the charges relate to the 19 month period between the start of September 2011 and the end of March 2013.

David Scutt, for the Crown, said "The complainant is a young lady who was interviewed when 15 years old in October 2013.

"The matter was due to be tried in the summer, but there not being a suitable judge to hear it, it was put off.

"She has written a withdrawal statement. That was written October 1 this year. It is not a statement which is in any way saying that she had lied.

"It is a statement that really says that she has become so anxious, she now being 17, about these proceedings and the effect the inevitable two-year wait for trial, that she can no longer continue.

"That has been looked at. That has been considered. In the circumstances the Crown will offer no evidence."

Judge Tim Mousley QC entered formal not guilty pleas which mean the same as if Carter, who was not in court for the hearing, were cleared by a jury.