A CHARD man facing an allegation of domestic violence had the case against him dropped when the alleged victim failed to turn up at court.

Mark Anthony Barr, 39, of Bonfire Close, was charged that on December 17 last year at Chard he assaulted a woman by beating her.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence at an earlier appearance before Somerset Magistrates and was ordered to stand trial.

On the day of the trial the defendant attended court but, despite attempts to contact the complainant, she did not attend to give evidence at the court in Yeovil.

As a result the prosecution said it had no option other than to offer no evidence in the case.

The allegation against Barr was formally dismissed and he was free to leave the court.