Nicky Butt: Assault charge dropped against ex-Man Utd player Published duration 18 February

image caption Nicky Butt was accused of beating his estranged wife, Shelley Barlow

Prosecutors have dropped an assault charge against ex-Manchester United footballer Nicky Butt.

He was due to face trial next week but the case has been discontinued after the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence. He has accepted a caution.

Ms Barlow did not want to give evidence against her husband, the Press Association reported.

An investigation was launched after police were called to an address where they found a woman who had suffered a small cut to her hand.

Mr Butt, who is head of coaching at the Manchester United youth academy, had previously pleaded not guilty to common assault and causing £800 of criminal damage to Ms Barlow's mobile phone.

"We have a duty to keep all cases under review and following the receipt of new material have decided to discontinue this prosecution," a spokesman said.

"Mr Butt has agreed to accept a caution for criminal damage."

'Abuse of process'

At a previous hearing, Lisa Roberts QC, said it would be her client Mr Butt's case that he did not know how the complainant came about any injury.

A preliminary hearing was due to take place on Wednesday in which his legal team was expected to argue the case should be thrown out as an abuse of process - partly questioning the proportionality of continuing with the prosecution.

Mr Butt, from Bowdon, Altrincham, won a string of Premier League titles in his playing career at Old Trafford and also played in the club's dramatic last-gasp 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the 1999 Uefa Champions League final.

He later went on to play for Newcastle United, Birmingham City and South China.

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