A WOMAN accused of theft has been found not guilty by jurors on the direction of a judge.

Rachel Wilson Boow, 24, had denied one charge of theft. It was alleged that she stole money from her former partner, Stefan Brew, between February and May, 2014.

Miss Boow, a woman of good character, went on trial this week at Carlisle Crown Court. But the hearing was brought to a premature conclusion today following a break in the prosecution case.

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Prosecutor Fraser Livesey used the time to speak with a reviewing lawyer, before passing on his conclusions to Judge Peter Davies.

Judge Davies went on to tell the jury of six men and six women: "What he (Mr Livesey) says, and I agree with him, (is that) there isn't the realistic prospect of a conviction by a jury.

"In the circumstances it is not in the public interest for a crown court to deal with it."

On the direction of Judge Davies, the jury found Miss Boow unanimously not guilty of the theft charge.

The judge then told Miss Boow, of Gatebeck, near Kendal: "You don't have to stay. You leave here without a criminal stain on your character."