TWO men have been cleared of raping a young girl and facilitating sexual offences with a child.

At Bolton Crown Court, Libaan Mohammed, 31, of Thorns Road, Bolton, and Jama Umal, 36, of Lonsdale Road, Bolton, stood in the dock as they were cleared of committing the offences which dated back to 2006.

Mr Umal was accused of raping a girl on at least five occasions between August and December 2006, and two further counts of raping the same girl. He was also cleared of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence involving sexual activity with a child, between August and December 2006.

His co-accused, Mr Mohammed was also accused of raping the same girl on at least five occasions between August and December 2006, alongside a further count of rape and two counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence between the same dates.

Both men had denied all the offences on September 11 this year and a trial was listed to take place on October 4 next year.

Iain Simkin, prosecuting, said the alleged victim, who now lives in Africa, would be unable to give evidence despite a plane being arranged to fly her to the UK and other arrangements being sought coming to nothing.

"Without her present there is no reasonable possibility of prosecution," said Mr Simkin.

"There is no prospect of her attending so no evidence can be offered to the court."

Finding both men not guilty, Recorder Jeremy Lasker, said: "It is unfortunate but I'm sure it has been considered in the right way and it seems to me you have no reasonable way forward."