thePolice sergeants who allegedly prevented officers from responding to the fatal stabbing of a dad-of-three in South Croydon will not face prosecution.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) today said there was insufficient evidence to charge the two sergeants with misconduct in public office.

The pair have been placed on restricted duties while the Metropolitan Police investigates claims they failed to properly respond to a frenzied attack in April 2014, in which Andrew Else, 52, was stabbed more than 200 times.

The force had passed files to prosecutors to assess whether their actions amounted to wilful neglect of duty.

EARLIER THIS WEEK: Widow stunned by claims police were stopped from responding to husband's fatal stabbing

The sergeants allegedly told officers at Addington station, just 700m from the spot in Selsdon Park Road where Mr Else was stabbed, not to respond to reports of the attack.

Emergency response officers from Croydon police station, nearly four miles away, were instead the first on the scene seven minutes after the report came in.

A CPS spokesman said today: “Following a thorough review of the evidence in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, we have decided that the evidence is not sufficient for there to be a realistic prospect of proving that the officers’ actions amounted to a wilful neglect of duty, which is the standard required.

"We have therefore advised that no further action be taken.”

Mr Else's widow, Clare, had been kept in the dark about the allegations until last week.

The 52-year-old, of Woodpecker Mount, Pixton Way, in the Forestdale estate, said on Tuesday: "It is frightening, because it is everything that you believe in, that they are going to look out for you and look after you.

"Andrew was just left there to bleed out, which is quite distressing in itself."

Ephraim Norman, 24, who has paranoid schizophrenia, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility earlier this year over the killing and was ordered to be detained indefinitely at maximum-security hospital Broadmoor.