UK: 'False rape claim has ruined my life’ says grandad

Story here. Excerpt:

'The 52-year-old, who the Post has chosen not to name, was impassive as a jury of five men and eight women returned a unanimous not guilty verdict on Friday.

But when he left the court room the relieved man was embraced by family members and friends who had supported him throughout his traumatic ordeal.

He told the Post: “It has ruined my life for the past two-and-a-half-years. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I was frightened to go out the house on my own.

“The trial itself was the worst time of my life. When the verdict came through I just heard the word ‘not’ and it was just pure relief. My lawyer had told me just to sit still and don’t react but I was jumping for joy inside. Now I just want to be left alone to get on with my life and feel safe in my own home.”

Advocate Paul Brown, representing the Faifley man, urged the jurors to acquit because he said the Crown’s case was “riddled with inconsistencies” and that his client was the victim of what he described as a “witch-hunt mentality”.'