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'Fake Sheikh' Mazher Mahmood drugs trial collapses 'Fake Sheikh' Mazher Mahmood drugs trial collapses
(about 2 hours later)
A second trial involving undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood, known as the 'Fake Sheikh', has collapsed. The trial of a man accused of drug dealing by reporter Mazher Mahmood, known as the Fake Sheikh, has collapsed.
The prosecution said the trial of two men accused by The Sun on Sunday newspaper of being involved in a drugs deal in May 2013 could not proceed. Mr Mahmood was said to have received the drugs at the Metropolitan Hotel in Old Park Lane in a dry run for his sting on Tulisa Contostavlos.
Mr Mahmood was previously found not to be a witness of truth at the trial of Tulisa Contostavlos. Her trial collapsed in July after a judge said he thought Mr Mahmood had lied in giving evidence.
In that trial in July, Judge Alistair McCreath said he believed the reporter had lied at a pre-trial hearing. The case against Leon Anderson was thrown out at Southwark Crown Court.
At Southwark Crown Court earlier, Ashley Gordon, 22, from Romford, was formally cleared of two counts of possessing a Class A drug. The 28-year-old, from south-west London, is expected to be formally cleared next Friday of two counts of supplying a Class A drug.
Leon Anderson, 28, from south-west London, is expected to be formally cleared next Friday of two counts of supplying a Class A drug. His co-accused Ashley Gordon, 22, from Romford, was formally cleared of two counts of possessing a Class A drug.
The pair were arrested following an undercover sting operation by reporters at the Metropolitan Hotel in Old Park Lane, London. The case was thrown out by Judge Alistair McCreath, who presided over the case against Ms Contostavlos.
Quinn Hawkins, prosecuting, said: "Having presided over the Contostavlos case, the position is that Mazher Mahmood gave evidence on two occasions in that case which tended to contradict itself."
Judge McCreath replied: "Just a bit, yes."
Dismissing the matter, Judge McCreath addressed Mr Gordon and said: "The case against you is over. You are acquitted and free to go."
Outside court, Mr Gordon said: "I don't think I have any views on Mazher Mahmood, I would say the media and press in general think they are above the law."
Mr Anderson did not appear in court.