An ambulance worker cleared of kissing an elderly patient as she recovered from a diabetic coma now faces an internal disciplinary hearing.

David Tranah, of Coldharbour Close, Crowborough, has been suspended on full pay from Sussex Ambulance Service since the allegation was made that he indecently assaulted patient Mary Simpkins.

Yesterday the case against the 46-year-old ambulance technician collapsed on the second day of a trial at Lewes Crown Court due to lack of evidence. He had denied the charge.

The prosecution said the alleged incident took place at Mrs Simpkins' flat in Old Orchard Road, Eastbourne, on September 19 last year after the diabetes sufferer had a hypoglycaemic episode.

Mrs Simpkins died before the trial could start.

Her police statement was deemed inadmissible, which left the prosecution with only one main witness to call to the stand.

Jill Wakefield, who assisted Mr Tranah during the 999 call, reported the allegation the day after the ambulance crew attended the flat.

She claimed to have seen Mr Tranah kiss Mrs Simpkins intimately on the lips while he was supposed to be checking her blood sugar levels.

But under cross-examination from defence counsel Sarah Forshaw, Mrs Wakefield admitted she did not actually see Mr Tranah make physical contact with Mrs Simpkins.

As a result, Judge Charles Kemp instructed the jury to return a not guilty verdict.

The judge said: "I have reviewed the evidence to consider whether it is sufficient in law to direct the jury to conclude if the defendant has committed the offence he is charged with. I have decided it is not."

Earlier, the jury had heard from Geoff Baker, a paramedic who treated Mrs Simpkins before Mr Tranah and Mrs Wakefield arrived.

Mr Baker said he knew Mrs Simpkins because she did not eat well and allowed her blood sugar levels to drop regularly. He told the jury he gave her a life-saving glucose injection, sugar sweets and a sandwich to eat as she slowly recovered.

Mr Baker said Mrs Simpkins was still complaining of tiredness when he left Mr Tranah and Mrs Wakefield to take over her treatment.

The jury then heard transcripts of two interviews Mr Tranah gave police after his arrest.

Mr Tranah told officers he was worried Mrs Simpkins might not have fully recovered and wanted to check her blood sugar levels again.

He sent Mrs Wakefield to get testing equipment and was checking the responsiveness of her pupils when the assistant returned.

Mr Tranah said: "It took seconds to realise she had full pupil reaction.

"There was definitely a gap between myself and Mrs Simpkins."