Otis case set to be dropped

Ferry, 26, son of Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry, was due to stand trial on charges of robbing a hunt monitor, assault and interfering with a witness.

But today Ferry, joint master of the South Shropshire Hunt, learned that the charge of perverting the course of justice was set to be abandoned due to "inconsistencies".

Gloucester Crown Court judge Martin Picton described the situation as "nonsense" and told prosecutor Stephen Dent that he wanted "something by way of explanation" given that he had remanded Ferry over Christmas because of the allegation.

Judge Picton said he had agreed to the remand because of the supposed seriousness of the charge and was now "taken aback" to hear that no evidence was due to be offered.

Mr Dent said of the decision: "Further investigations have revealed inconsistencies that the Crown are unhappy with."

A different barrister is due to prosecute the case at the trial, and Judge Picton ordered that he attend court at a later date to explain the decision in more detail.

The judge said: "This is nonsense at the moment. I'm not proceeding without a much fuller explanation of what's going on here."

The robbery incident is alleged to have taken place while Ferry, of Eaton Mascott, near Shrewsbury, was with the Heythrop Hunt, which covers Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

But the trial failed to get off the ground in September when allegations of "witness nobbling" emerged. Ferry was subsequently charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice.

In January Ferry was granted bail under a £25,000 surety to live in London with his mother, former socialite and model Lucy Birley, 48.

Today, Ferry's bail conditions were relaxed to allow him to visit Shropshire. He must report once a week to Earl's Court police station, rather than four times.

Ferry appeared in the dock alongside another man, John Deutsch, 55, of Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, who is also charged with robbery.

Neither entered pleas.

By Pam Griffin