TWO Liverpool men accused of staging a knife-point robbery at a house in Carlisle have been told that the case has been dropped.

Terence Riley, 33, and his co-defendant Keith Rogers, 37, had both been in custody awaiting a likely trial at the city’s crown court after the alleged raid on a house in Thomson Street, Carlisle, in the early hours of August 19 last year.

But a prosecuting barrister brought the case back to court to confirm that lawyers felt they had no option other than to drop the case.

One of the key witnesses involved in the case had since died, another was unwilling to testify, and a third was no longer cooperating with the prosecution, prosecuting barrister Daniel Bramhall told Judge Nicholas Barker.

As a result of the situation, Mr Bramhall said prosecution lawyers had decided to "offer no evidence" – a legal move that effectively kills off the prosecution.

Judge Barker formally returned not guilty verdicts on each defendant, bringing the case to a conclusion.

“That is an unfortunate turn of events,” he said. He noted that both defendants had been remanded in custody for a considerable time.

Both men were facing three counts of robbery, one for each of the alleged victims.

It had been alleged that, during a raid, the two defendants and another man stole a pink Apple watch worth £100; an Apple iPhone, also worth £100; and a Samsung Galaxy device.

Prosecutors believed there were three offenders.

During earlier hearings, Riley’s address was given as Boundary Street, Liverpool, while Rogers gave an address of Circular Road East, Liverpool.

As the Carlisle Crown Court case concluded, both defendants - watching the proceedings via a video link from the prison where they are being held - enthusiastically thanked the judge.

They are now likely to be released from custody.