A MANSLAUGHTER charge against a teenager has been dropped after a court heard the drowning of a 17-year-old Worcester teenager happened accidentally during “shadow boxing” between the two lads next to a local canal.

Tragic Sean Stevens and his friend Ryan Scott, now aged 18 and living in Synehurst, Badsey, near Evesham, were engaging in “rough horseplay” and neither intended to harm the other, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Gareth Walters, prosecuting, said it was a “tragic accident” and, for that reason, the Crown was inviting a “not guilty” verdict after Mr Scott denied unlawfully killing Mr Stevens.

Judge Robert Juckes (correct) QC delivered the verdict after being told by Mr Walters that Mr Stevens’s parents had shown “great composure” and, despite their grief, understood the reason for the decision to drop the charge.

Mr Walters described how Mr Stevens, Mr Scott - who was then also aged 17 - and a group of friends had been out during the evening in Worcester and were in “high spirits” after drinking a moderate amount.

Mr Stevens, who had attended Pershore High School, and Mr Scott had engaged in play fighting earlier in the night and they began “shadow boxing” later, when Mr Stevens was close to the Worcester to Birmingham canal in Bilford Road, Perdiswell, at about 8.50pm on March 31.

Mr Scott told police: “I didn’t mean to do it.

“Me and my mate were play fighting and he fell in the canal.”

Mr Scott described to police how he had been shadow boxing and accidentally clipped Mr Stevens, who fell backwards into the canal.

Mr Walters said another friend put himself at risk by going down a ladder and into the water but Mr Stevens, who had been struggling to remain afloat and could not swim, went under.

The fire brigade was called and Mr Stevens was pulled from the water 30 minutes later.

For a brief period after resuscitation attempts were made by paramedics there was a heartbeat but Mr Stevens was pronounced dead at Worcestershire Royal Hospital at 11.14pm.

Mr Walters said: “Death was due to drowning.

“There is no evidence of any significant assault or injury, although there was a slight cut to the right eye.

“Following a careful investigation it was found that two friends were both engaged in a little rough horseplay.

“Neither had any intent to cause harm to the other.”

Judge Juckes, after delivering his “not guilty” verdict, gave commiserations to Mr Stevens’s parents and added that “plainly the prosecution had reached the right decision.”

Mr Scott still faces charges of assaulting two police officers arising from events following the canal tragedy but Judge Juckes sent those matters back to the magistrates’ court.

Mr Scott was allowed bail with conditions, including a curfew from 8pm until 5am daily.