Published: Tuesday, 30th June, 2009 5:30pm
Date rape court case dropped
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A man accused of lacing a woman clubber"s drink with a date rape drug walked free from court after the case was dropped.
Richard Caddle, of Buccleuch Road, Datchet, was accused of spiking Angela Cordero"s drink with a high dose of codeine in order to take advantage of her.
His victim, an epileptic, claimed she suffered a fit in the club toilets moments after drinking the cocktail he had bought for her and police later found the substance in her system.
Today (Tuesday) the case was thrown out and formal 'not guilty' verdicts recorded after new CCTV evidence was discovered.
A judge at Reading Crown Court had previously heard that Mr Caddle, 41, had met Miss Cordero in Vanilla nighclub in Windsor.
The reveller told police that she started to feel unwell after Mr Caddle bought her a Bubble Gum cocktail and encouraged her to down it in one on March 14 last year.
Miss Cordero contacted police the next day and a test of her urine revealed she had 2.8mg per litre of codeine in her system.
Mr Caddle denied administering a substance with intent and administering a poison or noxious substance with intent.
Prosecutors said they could not continue with the case after a six hour stream of unseen CCTV footage was discovered.
'In the circumstances it is not possible to continue with the prosecution,' said Henry James.
Judge Anthony Leonard immediately discharged the jury from their duties and took the responsibility of recording a not guilty verdict himself.
Speaking to Caddle he said: 'As a result of further investigations, in particular looking at CCTV evidence of what was happening in the club and information from the defence about a new witness I will be discharging you.'












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