The high-profile collapse of several rape trials could damage the prospect of convictions in genuine cases, the former lord chief justice has warned.

Lord Judge, who was the most senior judge in England and Wales between 2008 and 2013, described recent failings as "alarming" and said they could lead juries to doubt whether they have been presented with all relevant evidence.

His comments come after errors led to sexual assault charges against Oxford University student Oliver Mears, 19, being dropped just days before his trial.

Lord Judge told The Times: "The recent examples in cases involving alleged sexual crime are alarming, both for all the individuals concerned and for public confidence in the administration of criminal justice generally.

"It is at least possible that from time to time juries, alarmed as everyone else by these cases, may wonder, even in an apparently strong case, whether they have been provided with all the admissible evidence.

"These events may reduce the prospects of conviction even when the allegation is genuine."