A PRISON officer accused of attempting to rape a woman has had the charge dismissed after the prosecution in the case offered no evidence.
Stephen Watts, who works at Durham Prison, had denied the alleged offence, said to have taken place after a night out on October 13 last year.
Judge Peter Armstrong told Mr Watts he was being discharged and was free to go after his brief appearance at Teesside Crown Court.
The judge also said he would make an order covering Mr Watts' court costs.
Mr Watts, 44, of Glendale Avenue, North Shields, North Tyneside, was understood to have been suspended from his job as a result of the police investigation into the allegation.
He made no comment as he left court.
A spokeswoman for the Prison Service said that it would not comment on the case, nor confirm whether Mr Watts was now back at work.
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