Police drop charge against Matthew Ridge

2.00pm

A charge against former rugby league and television celebrity Matthew Ridge has been dropped after police admitted a technical error.

Ridge was charged with driving outside the hours of his limited licence and refusing to accompany police after he was stopped at a drink-driving checkpoint on Auckland's Tamaki Drive last month.

Today police admitted there had been a technical error in procedure on the charge of refusing to accompany police which "would be fatal to the prosecution".

Police legal adviser Tracy Donald said the law on drink-driving checks put police under strict requirements and the technical error meant the charge could not be sustained.

"As with any case once we are aware that a prosecution is fatally flawed, it is proper to withdraw the charge at the earliest convenience," Ms Donald said.

Ridge is due to defend the driving charge next year.

- NZPA