AN AYR man accused of holding a woman hostage and seriously assaulting her at his flat in White City has been cleared after the case was dropped by prosecutors.

David Scott pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting, abducting and detaining the woman against her will at his property in the town’s Princes Court on February 15, 2023.

The 52-year-old was alleged to have locked the woman in the property and "kept the keys to himself", detaining her against her will.

We previously reported that he denied claims of repeatedly striking the alleged victim on the head, repeatedly taking hold of her by the hair, dragging her across a room and repeatedly striking the woman’s head on a window.

The Crown had claimed he threatened the woman with violence, that he presented a knife at her, and that he repeatedly struck and kicked her on the body.

It was also alleged that he caused the woman to fall and strike a wall, that he pushed and caused her to fall to the floor, and that he seized her neck and compressed it, causing her to have difficulty breathing.

The prosecution’s indictment stated the alleged assault was “all to her severe injury and to the danger of her life”, and that his alleged behaviour was aggravated because the complainer was a partner or former partner.

Scott, who appeared represented by defence advocate Kelly Duling, pleaded not guilty to the allegations while bailed over the proceedings.

He was found not guilty of the allegations, after a procurator fiscal depute told the court the Crown was no longer seeking a conviction.

Scott was allowed to leave the dock a free man after his acquittal of the charges.