A PENSIONER who had been accused of racially aggravated harassment against her neighbour has been cleared.

Carole Roberts, 73, of Guildford Close, Ronkswood, Worcester, has been acquitted of racially or religiously aggravated harassment with intent against Daniel Davies after the prosecution offered no evidence.

As a result the case against her following an alleged incident on February 26 this year was dismissed by district judge Ian Strongman sitting in Kidderminster on Monday.

The wording of the charge was that Mrs Roberts used 'threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour' but the allegation was disputed from the outset.

We have previously reported how Mrs Roberts and her frail husband campaigned to have her dog back after it was seized by armed police during an unrelated incident.

Mrs Roberts appeared before magistrates in September, supported by her husband John, where she denied any racially aggravated offence.

Chris Hilton, defending, said at the hearing in September: "It's denied there was any threatening behaviour of any description, whether racially aggravated or otherwise."

We reported in April how Carole and John Roberts both broke down in tears when their dog Dylan was returned to them by West Mercia Police after four months.

Neither of them had seen him since he was seized by West Mercia Police in December because he was suspected of a fatal attack on another dog – something the couple always denied.

As a last desperate resort, the couple had planned a protest outside Worcester Police Station in Castle Street with placards in the hope they could get Dylan back.

Dylan was seized by police with riot shields and Tasers on December 11 last year during fraught scenes at the family home.

Mr Davies has also been in court. We reported in April this year how the 37-year-old was found guilty of sexual assault, assault, theft, criminal damage and outraging public decency.

He was added to the Sex Offenders Register for five years, ordered to pay £1,979 in compensation, £500 court costs and £95 victim surcharge on top of receiving a community order and restraining order when sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Monday, April 12.