ClubsNSW has dropped criminal contempt charges against YouTuber Jordan Shanks over an interview with pokies whistleblower Troy Stolz.

The powerful clubs lobby initiated contempt proceedings against Shanks, known as Friendlyjordies, last year after he published an interview titled “The Legal way to take a life”, in which Stolz detailed his battle with cancer and the impact of his bitter federal court dispute with his former employer, ClubsNSW.

The interview was published after the federal court ordered Stolz be restrained from speaking publicly about the case in any manner calculated to “intimidate, harass, or otherwise bring improper pressure” on ClubsNSW.

ClubsNSW alleged the Friendlyjordies interview with Stolz breached that order and pursued contempt proceedings against both. The case could have resulted in convictions and potential jail time had ClubsNSW been successful.

But ClubsNSW this week sought leave to withdraw the charges against both Shanks and Stolz. It had already signalled it would withdraw all legal action involving Stolz, but it was previously unclear whether it would continue the pursuit of Shanks over the Friendlyjordies video.

The Guardian has confirmed that the federal court on Thursday made orders withdrawing the charges against both Shanks and Stolz.

No orders were made as to legal costs, but Shanks claimed in a YouTube video on Wednesday that ClubsNSW would pay his legal bill.

The development is further evidence of a changed approach from ClubsNSW...

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