EDL founder assault case dropped

Prosecutors have dropped a common assault case against the founder of the English Defence League (EDL), a court official said today.

Stephen Lennon, 28, had denied a charge of assaulting Gary Praid in Luton, Bedfordshire, on May 28 last year.

An official said the case had been discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in a hearing at Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court.

He said the court was told the alleged victim did not wish to attend.

The EDL founder is due to stand trial at the same court on July 25 charged with an offence under Section 4 of the Public Order Act.