Nine men accused of raping a teenage girl walked free from court after messages sent by the girl on Twitter cast doubt on her version of events.
The defendants had been charged with 28 sexual offences, including several rapes, but the prosecution said at the Old Bailey that there would be no evidence presented against them.
The defendants were aged between 21 and 30.
Samantha Cohen, for the prosecution, told the court that an old Twitter account used by the complainant, who was 14 at the time of the alleged offences, had emerged 'through a side-wind'.
The precise content of the Tweets was not disclosed to the Old Bailey, but she aid they had been reviewed at the 'highest level.'
"The consequence of the review of that material which has been conducted at the highest level is that there is no longer a realistic prospect of a conviction of any defendant on any charge on the indictment," she said.
'For that reason the Crown offer no evidence against the defendants in this case.'
Judge John Bevan, QC, said: It's unfortunate this happened so late, it's unfortunate some defendants have been in custody."