A CREWE man has been cleared of stalking a rival pest controller.

Iain Watson has successfully appealed against his conviction and sentence imposed at South Cheshire Magistrates' Court on April 13 this year.

Mr Watson, 43, of Greenway had pleaded not guilty to a charge of stalking Christopher Bowyer between November 2017 and April 2018.

But he was found guilty of the offence which the court heard arose from a dispute with the complainant, which was alleged to have included various social media postings.

The businessman was placed under a five-year restraining order and told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days as part of an 18-month community sentence.

He appealed and a the case was listed to be reheard on August 19 and 20, but following a review the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to oppose his appeal.

Mr Watson attended Chester Crown Court where the case was set down for mention on August 18.

At that hearing Judge Simon Berkson granted the appeal, which means Mr Watson has been acquitted of the offence of stalking, while the previous sentence imposed no longer applies.

He is also now no longer subject to any restraining order.