A retired vicar accused of vandalising an MP's office in an environmental protest has been cleared of criminal damage after the case against him was dropped. The Rev Mark Coleman, former Vicar of Rochdale, was accused of spraying graffiti calling for action on climate change on the outside of Heywood and Middleton MP Chris Clarkson's constituency office on March 21 last year.
Mr Coleman, 63, of Rochdale, was due to stand trial at Manchester magistrates' court today (Friday). But on the eve of the trial the Crown Prosecution Service informed Mr Coleman the case was being discontinued because 'there is not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction'.
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