TWO charges against a landlord accused of letting out a property as a brothel have been dropped.

The Crown Prosecution Service wrote to Asghar Karwa, of St Helens Road, Daubhill, on January 7 to confirm it was ending the case.

The prosecution was officially discontinued at Bolton Magistrates' Court on the same day as "a prosecution is not needed and not in the public interest".

Mr Karwa had been facing charges of one count of paying £40 for sexual services of a prostitute subjected to force, between January 1 and March 27 and one of being a landlord letting a premises in St Helens Road, Daubhill, for use as a brothel.

He had always maintained his innocence since entering not guilty pleas at the magistrates' court in November last year and was due to stand trial at the same court on February 23 until the prosecution was discontinued.

The 60-year-old was awarded his costs from central funds by the court on January 20.

Mr Karwa's son Fahd said: "My father wishes to share that this incident has affected him severely both mentally and emotionally.

"Having been a landlord and part of the Bolton Asian and wider community for over 35 years, he wished to assist and help migrants coming to Bolton from the European Union.

"He entered into an agreement with the Hungarian tenant and at once, when he became aware of unlawful conduct by the tenant's usage of his property, the tenancy agreement was ended and the tenant was requested to leave."