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Ex-cop's child rape trial halted
A FORMER South Yorkshire policeman accused of molesting a schoolgirl has had the charges dropped the day he was due to stand trial.
Gary Rowlands, aged 49, from Killamarsh but now living in Sofia, Bulgaria, denied one charge of rape, five counts of indecent assault and four charges of gross indecency with a child.
The incidents allegedly took place between October 1998 and October 2003, when the Beighton girl was aged between eight and 13.
Mr Rowlands was arrested last October and charged in December.
But in the days before his trial was due to begin at Nottingham Crown Court new evidence was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
The charges were formally dropped when prosecution lawyers told a judge they were offering no evidence at a hearing yesterday.
A spokeswoman for Derbyshire Crown Prosecution Service said: "In the days leading up to the trial we were provided with further evidence, from a number of sources, and it was our duty to review the case in the light of this new evidence.
"After careful consideration of all the evidence now available, it became clear that there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction and we made the decision to offer no evidence in this case.
"We take our responsibility to victims very seriously, and are aware of the impact such a decision may have on them.
"With this in mind we have already contacted the complainant and her family to explain in more detail the reasons for our decision and will be offering them a further meeting to address any specific concerns."
Mr Rowlands was a former sergeant based at Main Street police station, Rotherham.
He retired from the force three years ago.
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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