Ex-Town loan midfielder Guirane N’Daw was cleared of assaulting his wife Bigue Ndiaye N’Daw at Ipswich Crown Court this morning.
Judge John Devaux issued a "not guilty verdict by direction" after Mrs N’Daw, who is now based in France, failed to show in court to give evidence, despite a witness summons having been served. It was stated that she hadn't travelled as the couple's daughter is due to undergo surgery tomorrow.
Devaux dismissed prosecution calls for an adjournment with Mrs N’Daw having told the police the alleged assault was an accident the day after the arrest and having continued to show no support for the prosecution.
He said: ”The prosecution quite rightly take seriously allegations of domestic abuse but in this particular case the alleged victim has consistently shown a determination not to assist the prosecution and has said she won’t testify against her husband.
"I don’t see any useful purpose in adjourning the case to persuade her to attend when she has no intention of coming back.”
The charges related to an incident in March. Mrs N’Daw has subsequently issued divorce papers against the Senegalese international, whose loan spell with the Blues was up at the end of June.
The 29-year-old was released by parent club St Etienne at the end of last season and is now looking for a new club.