A man charged with sexual activity with a 15-year-old in Watford has been released a free man after the Crown offered no evidence on the case.
Efrem Goitom, 26, of Tottenham Lane, London, appeared at St Albans Crown Court today (Wednesday, January 3) accused of touching the girl in a sexual manner on June 16, 2020, despite not reasonably believing she was over 16.
He was also accused of attempting to touch a 15-year-old girl sexually on the same day. All parties involved in the case were strangers.
Mr Goitom had been remanded into custody after pleading not guilty last August.
Two of the charges related to engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity, while one was for attempting to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.
According to the charges, Mr Goitom did not reasonably believe the girl was 16 or older.
Prosecuting, Isabel Delamere told Judge Michael Roques that one of the witnesses had today said she was now unwilling to cooperate and participate in the trial, while there was an issue with identification relating to the other witness, so it was no longer in the public interest to proceed with the case.
An application for a restraining order was dismissed for legal reasons due to a lack of evidence to suggest Mr Goitom would contact the witnesses.
Judge Roques formally entered not guilty verdicts in relation to the three charges and ordered that Mr Goitom be released from custody today.
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