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Morris charge dropped

The charge of rape against Leeds United midfielder Jody Morris has been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service on Friday.

Morris was charged with the rape of a 20-year-old woman in Leeds on October 6.

However the CPS have dropped the charges against both Morris and his co-defendant Kristofer Dickie.

Neil Franklin, the Chief Crown Prosecutor in West Yorkshire, admitted that new forensic evidence had come to light.

"At all times the CPS has to be satisfied that there is a realistic prospect of obtaining a conviction and, whilst this could be asserted on the basis of the evidence submitted in the initial file, this is no longer the case," said Franklin.

"The thorough police inquiry which began following the allegation being made and which has continued since the arrests, led to a request from West Yorkshire Police for further work by the Forensic Science Service.

"It has now completed this work and, as a result, submitted further evidence which undermines the prosecution case to the extent that there is no longer a realistic prospect of obtaining a conviction.

"When the CPS received the file in November, it was reviewed by a senior and experienced CPS lawyer who was satisfied at that stage that there was a realistic prospect of conviction.

"As a result, Jody Morris and Kristofer Dickie were charged. West Yorkshire Police are also confident this was the correct decision at the time.

"The CPS have a duty to keep cases under review and when fresh evidence comes to light, as it has here, we have to look at the case and decide whether it can still go ahead.

"Having looked at this further evidence, we have decided the case should not proceed.

"This decision has only been made after very careful consideration and following lengthy consultation with the West Yorkshire Police and Queen's Counsel.

"The content of the prosecution case remains confidential."