A MAN due to stand trial for offences including assaulting a police officer has been cleared of all charges.

Alex Leigh, of Quicksilver Way, appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on December 21 after an incident on August 12, where graffiti was sprayed on a number of businesses in Andover town centre.

The anarchy symbol and devil's number 666 were spattered in red across The Beauty Salon, British Heart Foundation, Dunning Funeral Directors and St Mary's Surgery and the front door of Belvoir estate agents and Andover Police Station was also damaged.

The 25-year-old pleaded not guilty to seven offences and on the morning he was due to stand trial the prosecution dismissed the case against him after findings from a psychiatric report.

Prosecution barrister Jessica Brice said: “A psychiatric report obtained in this matter point on the defendant’s mental state at the time of alleged offences.

“The report does conclude he was manic at the time and he would not understand the matter of his actions.

“The expert concluded he would not be able to have intent.

“The crown no longer wishes to proceed in this matter.”