A man whose rape accuser killed herself while her allegations were being investigated said he had been put through a "horrendous ordeal" after the case was dropped by prosecutors.

Elgan Varney, 33, was charged with raping Hannah Stubbs, 22, in April last year.

Both were students at Keele University.

Ms Stubbs, who studied physiotherapy, killed herself in August 2015 while her case was being investigated by police.

An inquest last year found that she had been suffering post-traumatic stress at the time of her death.

Mr Varney, of Clayton, Staffordshire, was charged with two counts of rape, which he denied. The charges have now been dropped because the Crown Prosecution Service has decided that there is no realistic prospect of conviction.

Outside court Mr Varney said that he had been through a "horrendous ordeal".

In a statement read by his solicitor Hollie Alcock, Mr Varney said: "This is not a time of celebration for me - quite simply, I should never have been charged and put through this horrendous ordeal.