A charge of violent disorder against former Portsmouth News sports writer Danny Griffiths has been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

He was alleged to have been involved in the crowd trouble that marred a Division One football match at Coventry’s Highfield Road stadium last month.

He was not at the game in a professional capacity, but was suspended from work pending a disciplinary inquiry, and later dismissed.

During his second appearance in court at Coventry, the prosecution asked for the charge to be withdrawn.

Magistrates agreed that the charge against the 41-year-old, who worked for the Portsmouth News and the Portsmouth Pink newspapers, be withdrawn.

The decision to dismiss him was made after a full investigation by the newspaper into the journalist’s actions at the match.

Editor Mike Gilson said: “This has not been a pleasant situation for all parties involved but this newspaper must act to ensure the conduct of its journalists does not in any way compromise its hard-earned reputation for rigorous, impartial reporting and forthright comment on all issues which affect our communities.”