Liverpool's Raheem Sterling cleared of assaulting girlfriend due to 'disappointing evidence'

Liverpool and England footballer Raheem Sterling was dramatically cleared of assaulting his model girlfriend, making him a free man.

According to the Mirror, the case against the 18-year-old collapsed midway through a trial after the prosecution objected to the evidence of his partner Shana Halliday, who the winger was accused of attacking during a car journey from Manchester to Merseyside.

Sterling, who denied the attack on August 8, was arrested in the Page Moss district of Merseyside after Halliday called the police, the report said.

The trial took a twist when prosecutor Sara Drysdale, clearly unhappy with Halliday's version of events, applied to magistrates to make the model a 'hostile witness' to allow a more direct form of questioning to be taken against her, the report added.

Later, Drysdale told the court that there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.

A Liverpool Football Cub spokesman said that it was a private matter for Raheem and they would not be making any further comment.