A UKIP mayoral hopeful who was charged with sexually assaulting a homeless Bulgarian just days before the Lewisham local elections has been cleared.

Peter Lello was first arrested on May 15 last year over an allegation of sexual assault on May 2 at an address in Lewisham.

News of his arrest broke on the day of Lewisham's mayoral elections, in which Mr Lello was standing for UKIP.

But, at a hearing on May 15 at Woolwich Crown Court, the Crown Prosecution Service said it would be offering no evidence and Mr Lello, 44, of Glenville Grove, was formally found not guilty of sexual assault.

Following the hearing, Mr Lello said: "This has been an extremely difficult year but with the support from UKIP friends and colleagues justice has prevailed."

UKIP Greenwich & Lewisham Chairman Paul Oakley said: "Peter’s innocence was never doubted by those of us who know him."