The case sparked an outcry from media freedom groups, who said Thailand should not punish reporters for carrying body armour and protective gear in and out of dangerous zones.

Anthony Kwan Hok-chun, 29, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport in August. He had been covering the aftermath of a deadly bomb blast at the Erawan Shrine, which is popular with Chinese tourists.

He was held for carrying a flak jacket and helmet in his carry-on luggage.

Both items are classified as weapons under Thai law and Kwan was charged with breaching the Arms Control Act — punishable by up to five years in jail.

“The court has made its ruling, the case is dropped,” an official at Samut Prakan provincial court said. The official did not elaborate on why the case had been shelved.

Kwan, who had been released on bail, was expected to return to Bangkok for the start of the trial in early April.

Media groups have criticised Thailand’s classification of protective gear as weapons that require licensing, saying they are vital equipment for reporters working in a country where political violence routinely spills onto the streets.

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand, which has lobbied successive governments to overturn the ban, welcomed the decision. Bangkok has long been a hub for reporters covering both Thailand and regional neighbours.