A Dover man has been acquitted of keeping a woman as a slave, making her work at a local restaurant and pocketing her wages.

She also claimed she was groped as she performed menial chores without pay around the house.

Now the Crown Prosecution Service has told the judge it wanted to drop the case against Rudolf Maco, 31, from London Road, Dover.

The jury at Canterbury Crown Court has formally found him not guilty of five charges of modern day slavery and sex assaults.

Prosecutor Paul Raudnitz had alleged that Maco had made the woman perform “forced or compulsory” labour against her will.

He told the jury :“It is a criminal offence to require another person to perform forced or compulsory labour, in short work exacted under menace and performed against their will.

“Force or compulsory implies physical restraint or alternative mental constraint..some form of coercion.”

But half way through her evidence, which was recorded on DVD and shown to the court, lawyers had discussions in chambers before deciding to offer no evidence.

Maco had always denied the allegations, looked relieved as the announcement was made.