After three previous hearings the case against the England starlet has been abandoned after the prosecutor’s witness failed to turn up at Liverpool magistrates’ court on Monday

Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling has had his assault charge dropped after a witness failed to show up at court.

The 18-year-old did not have to appear at Liverpool magistrates’ court after the prosecution was unable to offer any evidence at the hearing on Monday morning.

Sterling denied accusations of assaulting a woman in Toxteth in Liverpool last November and the court heard that the taxpayer will cover the footballer’s legal costs.

This was the fourth occasion the case has been before the court in Liverpool, and the winger has not attended any of them.

It is believed he waited in a car around the corner from the court as the 10am hearing got underway, along with his agent, Reds manager Brendan Rodgers and other club officials.

Prosecutor Rob Jones waited until 10:45 before he abandoned the case when his witness had still failed to attend court.

The court heard that it was not in the public interest to force alleged victims and witnesses to attend court for an allegation of minor common assault.

According to the Press Association, Liverpool FC have declined to make any comment on the case.