Charges against an individual accused of attempting to blackmail a public figure from Christchurch following a paid sexual encounter have been dropped, according to RNZ.

The charges were withdrawn on the day the re-trial was scheduled in the Christchurch District Court.

The initial trial was abandoned in March due to a “legal issue,” with the reasons being suppressed.

The case involved a payment dispute between the pair after meeting on the dating app Grindr, which escalated in the days following their encounter.

Judge Paul Kellar dismissed potential jurors, just before the re-trial was due to commence.

The judge informed the court and the defendant that the charge had been withdrawn under section 146 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

Both the public figure and the former accused were granted permanent name suppression.

During the initial trial, prosecutors presented evidence that before engaging in sex, the defendant had mentioned the expectation of being “rewarded” for the encounter, although no specific amount or method of payment had been agreed upon.

Following the encounter, the pair exchanged messages about the payment amount.

When payment was not made the next day, the defendant visited the complainant’s house and put up a cardboard sign demanding payment, stating that failure to pay would equate to sexual assault, according to the Crown.

Later that day, the complainant paid the defendant $250.

Subsequently, the pair continued exchanging messages, which the complainant claimed amounted to blackmail.

In one of the messages, the accused expressed dissatisfaction with their encounter, saying he felt he had two options: either going public or taking an overseas trip to clear his mind, but noted he could not afford a holiday.

The defendant’s lawyer, Nikki Hansen, argued that the jury needed to determine whether her client was attempting blackmail or merely expressing his unhappiness and seeking an apology.

She also questioned whether the accused had consented to all of the sex acts, citing messages from the accused that referenced sexual assault.

Hansen suggested that an accusation of blackmail would be an effective defence against a charge of sexual assault according to the RNZ report.