VICTIMS of alleged abuse at the hands of the late Lord Janner were left “devastated” yesterday after his criminal case was dropped decades after they first accused him of child sex abuse.

Greville Janner had been charged with 22 sexual offences dating back to the 1960s against nine alleged victims, most of whom were under 16 at the time.

Yet despite what police described as significant amounts of evidence, prosecutors declined to bring charges against Janner on two occasions, before finally being forced into an embarrassing U-turn last year.

But legal proceedings were left in limbo following Janner’s death last month, just days after he was found unfit to stand trial at the Old Bailey.

Announcing the decision not to press ahead with the planned trial of facts, prosecutor Richard Whittam QC revealed in court that more charges were scheduled to be brought against the peer.

Mr Whittam said that a copy of the peer’s death certificate had been produced for the court file, bringing an end to the matter.

Trial judge Mr Justice Openshaw agreed: “There is nothing more to be said. That’s the end of the proceedings.”

Specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon Liz Dux, who represents eight alleged victims, said: “My clients are obviously devastated that they are no longer able to give their evidence in a criminal court.

“They understand the reasons why but that doesn’t make up for the real travesty — that many gave their statements decades ago and have been denied justice through a failure to prosecute earlier when Janner was alive and well.”

Following the announcement, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse chaired by Justice Goddard confirmed that it would resume its own investigation into the allegations against former Leicester MP Janner.

As part of its inquiry it announced that Leicestershire County Council, a number of care homes, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Labour Party will all be looked into, it said.

An inquiry spokeswoman said it would focus on “different issues” from a criminal trial, with the first step to examine the facts surrounding the allegations against Janner.

The first preliminary hearing will take place on March 9, with “core participants” invited to apply later this month, she said.