Peel man given £1,000 in costs after exoneration

Assault charges dropped by prosecution advocate

A man from Peel has been awarded more than £1,000 in legal costs, after an allegation he assaulted his girlfriend was dropped.

45-year-old Charles Anthony Watson of Market Street was said to have committed common assault against his former partner on March 16.

But a hearing before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse was told witness statements and evidence from his mobile phone meant there was no reasonable prospect of conviction.

Prosecution advocate Richard Butters withdrew the charge, and magistrates awarded Mr Watson legal costs against the Attorney General's chambers.