Sexual assault charges against a friend of black murder victim Stephen Lawrence have been dropped - after sharp criticism of the police.

Duwayne Brooks, 25, who was with Mr Lawrence on the night he died, had been accused of indecently assaulting an 18-year-old girl.

The attack allegedly happened at his flat in Peckham, south London, last September.

But Judge David Stokes QC at the Old Bailey said the police and the prosecution had made "a series of errors and misjudgements" in dealing with the case.

Following evidence from the defence, Mr Stokes ruled it would be unfair to proceed with the prosecution.

"Bearing in mind the conflicts and inconsistencies it would be unfair to try this defendant," the judge said.

Mr Brooks, who denied the charge, is trying to sue the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Condon, the Crown Prosecution Service and 15 officers for their roles in failed attempts to bring Stephen's killers to justice.

He says he has endured "traumatic treatment" since the murder.

The case was dropped as police made a fresh appeal for witnesses to the racist murder of Mr Lawrence.

On 22 April 1993, Duwayne Brooks was with Mr Lawrence, 18, when he was stabbed to death in Well Hall Road, Eltham, south east London.