The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has apologised to a man who remained in prison despite charges against him being dropped.

James Jobson, 62, from Costessey near Norwich, had been accused of sharing details of properties housing asylum seekers and remanded in custody following anti-immigration disorder in Thetford, but Norfolk Police said on Friday that no further action would be taken.

The CPS also confirmed that the charges were dropped against Jobson on Friday, but he was not released from prison until the following day with his family telling the BBC they were "in bits".

A CPS spokesperson said it had been alerted on Saturday to an "inaccuracy in the notice sent to the prison".

"We would like to apologise to James Jobson and his family," they said.

"We were alerted on Saturday of an inaccuracy in the notice sent to the prison and worked quickly to rectify this so he can be released without further delay."

Jobson was released shortly after 22:00 BST on Saturday, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said.

There was a heavy police presence after three nights of disturbances in Thetford [John Fairhall/BBC]

Houses on five streets in Thetford were targeted by crowds over three nights earlier this month.

Jobson had appeared at Ipswich Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with misconduct in public office over the sharing of the properties' addresses.

He was remanded in custody following the hearing and was due to appear at Norwich Crown Court next month.

However, Norfolk Police said on Friday that "it was concluded that the legal test for prosecution was no longer met and the case was discontinued".

The force said: "Officers identified additional evidence which undermined the case against Mr Jobson and the CPS was informed of these developments."

It added that "detectives continue to investigate how information was shared online which led to a number of addresses being targeted".

Earlier on Saturday, when asked if Jobson remained in prison, a spokesperson for the MoJ said: "The lord chancellor has been clear he expects everything possible to be done to ensure Mr Jobson's release immediately."

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