Liverpool Starlet Raheem Sterling's Assault Charge is Dropped

Liverpool starlet Raheem Sterling has had an assault charge against him dropped in court, today.

Kop winger Sterling was accused of beating up a young woman in a district of the city called Toxteth, last November.

But the case against him was dropped after a witness failed to turn up to give evidence at Liverpool Magistrates' Court.

Sterling, 18, had himself repeatedly failed to attend hearings at court and had pleaded not guilty to common assault via his lawayer.

Earlier in the case, the judge issued advice to Sterling that the England international "needed" to attend hearings.

Police charged Sterling after a 27-year-old woman was attacked in the inner city area, whom he reportedly knew. She received slight facial injuries during the incident.

Sterling made a stellar impact on the pitch for Liverpool last season, with a string of electrifying displays of speed and skill which yielded two goals and an England call-up.

He made his international debut against Sweden just days after the assault allegedly happened.

But Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers began using Sterling less often in the team following the incident, which led to his assault charge. Rodgers said it was because Sterling was tired and needed to recover from his on-pitch exploits.