BYRON BAY, Australia, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Authorities in the Australian resort town of Byron Bay have dropped vandalism charges against Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
Martin, 26, was charged with maliciously destroying and damaging property during an alleged altercation with a photographer on a beach in New South Wales in July.
He was vacationing with his girlfriend, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, when photographer Jon Lister claimed Martin smashed his car's windshield with a rock and let the air out of its tires.
Martin was reportedly angry Lister had taken his picture while surfing without asking his permission.
The charges against Martin were formally dropped during a short hearing on Friday, the London Telegraph reported Saturday. Martin was not present for the hearing.
Police did not explain why they had dropped the charges but indicated an out-of-court settlement had been reached with Lister, the newspaper said.
The charge could have carried a maximum five years in prison.
