A 28-YEAR-old Ludlow man was cleared of a burglary charge after the alleged victim refused to attend court.

Timothy Smith had been due to face trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.

He had been accused of burglary at an address in Castle Square during which items of jewellery were said to have been taken.

Smith, of Rock Terrace, Ludlow, had denied the charge.

At court yesterday, William Dudley, prosecuting, said that the victim, Miss Louise Matthews, had recovered the items a short time after the alleged offence on June 19 this year.

"As a result she has indicated that she did not wish to come to court to give evidence," he said.

Mr Dudley said that it was not in the public interest to summons her to attend court and offered no evidence and Judge Jonathan Gosling recorded a not guilty verdict.