Two brothers accused of gang raping a 16-year-old girl in a suburban Sydney stairwell have had sexual assault charges dropped after their alleged victim failed to show up for their trial two days in a row.
The men, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were set to face trial this week over four counts of sexual intercourse without consent in the company of four other males.
They were accused of luring the girl into a stairwell near a library in Liverpool and raping her before stealing her mobile phone.
The girl was due to give evidence at Parramatta District Court on Tuesday, but crown prosecutor Ken Gilson said she had not arrived - for the second straight day.
Mr Gilson said the girl could not be found or reached by telephone as she had deliberately turned off her phone.
With the alleged victim not present, the court heard the sexual assault charges would be dropped.
The brothers, who are on bail, then admitted to stealing the teenager's mobile phone and pleaded guilty to robbery offences.
They will be sentenced for robbery in company on Wednesday.
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