A drug dealer accused of spiking a man, filming himself raping him and then blackmailing him has been cleared.
Michael Fry, 43, was due to stand trial last month over the string of charges, which all related to another man he had had sex with in April 2025.
But the trial ended after the judge quashed the blackmail charge on a legal technicality and the Crown Prosecution Service withdrew the other charges after reviewing the file.
However Fry did not walk free from court as he had already pleaded guilty to assaulting the man and dealing crystal meth and GBH, for which he was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Fry, of New England Street, Brighton, was charged with drugging the man, raping him and filming a private act on 2 April.
He was also charged with spiking the man, causing him to have sex with him and raping him the following day.
The blackmail charge was said to have happened between 1 April and 6 April – but this was quashed on the first day the trial was due to take place, 28 July, at Lewes Crown Court.
The charge said Fry blackmailed the man into having sex with him – but Judge Martyn Huseyin quashed it on the basis the Theft Act 1968 states the offence of blackmail only applies to demands for property.
The jury was then directed to acquit on the other six charges after the Crown undertook a further review of the allegations during the trial and decided to offer no further evidence on those matters.
A police spokeswoman said: “Sussex Police is committed to thoroughly investigating reports of rape and sexual offences, gathering all available evidence, and supporting victims and witnesses to ensure as full a case as possible is presented to the court.
“At Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday 28 July, Michael Fry, 45, of New England Street, Brighton, was acquitted of one count of rape of a man, one count of voyeurism, and one count of administering a substance with intent to stupefy or overpower to allow sexual activity.
“The jury returned not guilty verdicts on the direction of the judge due to changes in the evidence available during trial, which were outside of the force’s control.
“A charge of blackmail was also discharged.”
Fry was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and being concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs.
The CPS was approached for comment but had not replied at the time of publication.
