A Charedi Torah scribe and trainee rabbi accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy in a synagogue lavatory was acquitted on Monday when the prosecution at Snaresbrook Crown Court said that they had no evidence against him.

The charges against Moshe Reichman, 24, from Golders Green, who pleaded not guilty, were dismissed by the judge Mr Justice Birts.

Counsel for the prosecution, Catherine Milson, told the court that the boy — who cannot be named for legal reasons — was currently in Israel with family friends and that his father had said there were no plans for him to return to the UK to give evidence..

The judge dismissed the four charges relating to events that allegedly took place four years ago.

They included raping a child under the age of 13, sexual activity with a child and two charges of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Mr Reichman’s barrister, Jonathan Goldberg QC, said his client had always maintained his complete innocence.