A PROFESSIONAL boxer will no longer face trial for his alleged part in a disturbance at a nightclub which later saw a devoted granddad die, it has been revealed.

The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped a charge of affray against the super middleweight fighter after witnesses withdrew their support.

Stewart Anderson, 54, a freelance tiler of Hetton-le-Hole, collapsed at the Loveshack nightclub in Durham City’s Walkergate area in the early hours of Sunday, July 24, last year.

Police were called to the club shortly after 1am after reports of a disturbance inside the premises involving a number of people.

The father-of-two, who also had a young granddaughter, became unwell following the disturbance and was given first aid by police and paramedics. He was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Durham, but died later.

At a hearing at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court last month, the boxer’s father Alan King, 56, of Houghton Road, Hetton-le-Hole, pleaded guilty to a charge of affray.

District judge Martin Walker ordered Alan King to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £80 and a victim surcharge of £85.

Jordan King, 24, of Earls Green, in East Rainton, pleaded not guilty to a charge of affray and was due to stand trial on Monday. But last week the CPS decided to drop the charges.

A CPS spokesperson said: “Jordan King was alleged to have been involved in a disturbance inside the Love Shack public house in July of last year.

“The prosecution case against him relied heavily on the evidence of eyewitness, but we were subsequently informed that those witnesses no longer wish to support the prosecution case.

“Given this, there was no longer a realistic prospect of securing a conviction against Jordan King and arrangements were made to have the case formally discontinued.”

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an examination into the circumstances surrounding Mr Anderson's death.

The police watchdog had received a mandatory referral from Durham Constabulary as its officers attended the incident.