Sexual assault charges stayed against Calgary chef Michael Noble

Calgary chef Michael Noble no longer faces a sexual assault trial, after the Crown prosecutor's office stayed the charge against him.

"Mr. Noble has been confident since entering a not-guilty plea on his first court appearance that the court would properly dispose of the accusation against him," reads a statement released by Noble's lawyer, Jennifer Ruttan.

"The Crown decision to stay the prosecution supports his confidence in the criminal justice system."

According to Alberta Justice, the case was reviewed by both asenior prosecutor and the chief Crown prosecutor, who determined Noble was unlikely to be found guilty.

"There is a difference between the police standard for laying a charge and the Crown standard for prosecuting a case, meaning that sometimes the Crown will not proceed with charges laid by the police,"read an emailed statement.

"This is part of the criminal justice system's checks and balances."

• Chef Michael Noble pleads not guilty to sexual assault

Noble was accused of assaulting a 21-year-old woman after following herinto a bathroom at a social gathering that took place at a lounge in the 200 block of Eighth Avenue S.W. in January 2018.

In a civil document filed by the complainant,she claimed he cornered her in a stall and sexually assaulted her.

Noble pleaded not guilty last May. At that time,his lawyer said her client "denies the allegations and will continue to rigorously defend his innocence."

An 'incredibly difficult' ordeal

The trial was to take place in March.

When a charge is stayed, the prosecution has one year to reopen the case but that almost never happens.

Ruttan says her client is asking for privacy as he tries toput "this incredibly difficult and public ordeal behind him."

Noble is the owner of award-winning restaurants The Nash inInglewoodand Notable in Montgomery.