Prosecutors drop charges in raking case

Prosecutors have dropped the charges against two of the three Spanish fishermen accused of raking illegally in British waters on Boxing Day in 2014.

The case against Juan Antonio Lopez Mensuri and Jose Antonio Gonzalez Fernandez, the captains of two La Linea based fishing boats, was discontinued by the Government Law Offices last week.

A third captain, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Carcano, still faces a charge of illegal raking.

No reasons were given for discontinuing the charges against the other two men but the Chronicle understands the decision relates to issues of evidence.

The case dates back to December 26, 2014, when six Spanish fishing boats were seen fishing off the shore at Catalan Bay as scores of people participated in the annual Polar Bear swim.

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