Charges were dropped in a St. John's courtroom on Monday against a prominent hockey coach.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary had charged Rick Babstock, 58, of St. John's in February on charges of indecent assault and gross indecency.

Court documents said the charges were related to an incident alleged to have happened in Placentia in 1971.

On Monday, however, the Crown withdrew the charges.

Defence lawyer Bob Simmonds blamed the police for a sloppy investigation.

Babstock, who is well known across Newfoundland and Labrador for decades of work as a hockey coach, was not in court Monday when the case was thrown out.