GERMAN police have dropped charges against a man who was accused of kicking to death a North-East worker.

Spray painter Ronny Redhead never regained consciousness after he suffered a blow to the head while celebrating his 24th birthday at a German beer festival in July 1998.

German Helmut Kern was charged with causing bodily harm resulting in death.

But the case has been dropped and the decision has outraged Ronny's mother Irene, who hit out at the authorities for failing to convict the thug she believes killed her son.

Mrs Redhead, 48, of Burradon, North Tyneside, said: "I don't think I will ever see justice done. I know it wouldn't bring Ronny back, but it has left me feeling bitter.

"I feel very angry that the case was dropped. I don't think it would have happened in this country. They say it is possible he fell, but I am certain he was kicked.

"I saw the marks on his head and his hands. It looked as though he put his hands in front of his face to stop himself being kicked. I miss him more every day. Ronny and I were so close."

Ronny was fatally injured when a fight started by neo-Nazi thugs, erupted in a marquee in Kippenheim, in southern Germany, after the German football team lost to Croatia in the World Cup