Girl, 14, accused of murdering 'sex attacker' days after charges against him were dropped

Robert Daley, 45, was stabbed several times in the chest and was found in a pool of blood in the doorway of his flat in Stockwell, south London

A girl of 14 has been charged over the suspected 'vigilante' murder of a man she had accused of a sex assault.

Robert Daley, 45, was stabbed to death just days after the Crown Prosecution Service ruled there was insufficient evidence to charge him over an alleged attack on the teenager.

Neighbours found him sprawled in a pool of blood in the doorway of his flat in south London on Friday evening.

He was able to give his first name to police and paramedics, but died minutes later.

Police arrested an 18-year-old man over the murder on Saturday before detaining the 14-year-old girl late on Sunday. She was still being held last night.

Sources confirmed that the female suspect is the same girl who had previously accused Daley of raping her.

Her allegations prompted an investigation by a Metropolitan Police child protection team but the CPS, which examined an evidence file, concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge him over the alleged attack.

The decision is said to have infuriated the girl, who insisted she was telling the truth and wanted him to face court.

Last night a neighbour of the victim described the horrifying moment when he saw Daley close to death.

Barry Boreland, who lived next door in the block of flats in Brixton, South London, said: 'The door was open and I saw lying on his back in the landing, his head furthest from the door.

'His legs were flopped out and there was blood everywhere. He was still conscious and managed to tell the police his first name.

'His girlfriend was there and gave his surname. It was a shocking sight and very upsetting.

'He was a decent neighbour who had never caused us any problems.'

Other friends were astonished to discover that he had been accused of rape.

Mr Daley, who is believed to have a daughter from a previous relationship, had worked as builder and plasterer, but had not been employed for several years because he suffered from epilepsy.

Nicholas Walker, who had known him for ten years from the popular Duke of Edinburgh pub near his home, described him as a 'gentle giant.'

He said: 'Robert was a quiet, polite man. He is the last person I would ever thought that something like this would happen to.

'He never caused trouble. I saw him riding his mountain bike near his home a couple of hours before his death and he didn't look like he had a care in the world. It is all a terrible shock.'

Another friend, David Eden, 55, said: 'He was a bit of a ladies man. He and a friend would go to nightclubs together and fancied themselves a bit with women.

'But there was nothing malicious or nasty about him. He was very genuine and good natured. I can't believe there was anything in the allegations. It wasn't like him at all.'

The CPS confirmed that Mr Daley was investigated over rape allegations but a decision not to prosecute him because of insufficient evidence was made on April 13.

A post-mortem examination held on Saturday (24 April) gave cause of death as resulting from stab wounds to the chest.

Scotland Yard confirmed a teenage girl had been arrested in connection with the attack.

An 18-year-old man who was initially arrested in connection with the death has bailed to return in May.