An Oxford University student who called a mounted policeman's horse "gay" will not be prosecuted, it was announced today.
Police stood by their decision to take Belfast man Sam Brown (21) to court for making "homophobic comments" after the Crown Prosecution Service today dropped the case.
Mr Brown approached the officer during a night out with friends in Oxford after his final exams, and said: "Excuse me, do you realise your horse is gay?"
Moments later, two Thames Valley Police squad cars appeared in the High Street, and Mr Brown was arrested under section 5 of the Public Order Act for making homophobic remarks.
His remarks were deemed likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Mr Brown, an English Literature graduate, then at Oxford's Balliol College, spent the night of May 30th last year in the cells. He refused to pay an £80 fine, so police took the case to court.
But at Oxford Magistrates' Court today it emerged the Crown Prosecution Service had chosen to discontinue the case.
Thames Valley Police today defended their decision to take the case to court.
A spokesman denied the police were heavy-handed. He said Mr Brown was drunk and that he had made repeated comments about the horse being gay despite requests from the officers to desist.
PA