First published on Thursday 05 April 2001:

Man's anger at sex abuse claim

A DEVIZES man has spoken of his shock at being arrested and questioned on allegations of sexually abusing a teenage girl.

The 46-year-old father-of-two has denied all the allegations.

But he was stunned when he was the target of a letter campaign by the mother of the girl he was alleged to have assaulted.

She has sent letters to all his neighbours revealing all the allegations.

The man admits he was arrested in January and questioned about events which were alleged to have occurred between 1992 and 1997.

But he was informed on February 26 the Crown Prosecution Service had reviewed the case, and had insufficient evidence to pursue it.

He said: The allegations came like a complete bolt from the blue. The first thing I knew about them was when the police came to the door at 8am and arrested me. I was held at the police station for most of the day.

Now I just want to forget the whole thing. It has been a nightmare for me and my family.

But the mother of the girl at the centre of the case, who lives in the Pewsey area, has distributed letters to the man's neighbours, warning them of what she alleges as `a potential risk to local children'.

She wrote: Looking back over the years, there is too much circumstantial evidence to support my daughter's claim. Although I am her mother, if I take an objective viewpoint, I wholeheartedly believe her allegations.

Why would she suffer the indignity of police interviews on such an embarrassing subject, when she has nothing to gain?

She describes her daughter as a sensible if somewhat reserved child. She told the Gazette her daughter, now aged 15, brought up the allegations just after Christmas. She had no inkling anything had been wrong, although the allegations date from when she was eight years old.

She said: As soon as she told me, I took her to the doctor and then it was out of my hands.

A social worker was brought in and the authorities had to be told of the claims of sexual abuse. It couldn't have happened at a worse time.

My daughter is doing her mock exams and I'm just hoping this business will not affect her future.

I'm in no doubt she is telling the truth. The police investigator had to lead her because she wouldn't open up.

When we received the letter from the CPS, saying that no action was being taken, it was crushing.

It seemed so unfair. I felt I had to make sure the neighbours' children were safe.

She has had a letter from the man's solicitors, Sylvester Mackett, warning her that her actions in writing and distributing the letter made her liable to civil court action, and that she should stop making any further allegations.

A spokesman for Devizes Police, who have investigated the allegations said: A man was interviewed in relation to this matter. The Crown Prosecution Service advised us there was insufficient evidence to pursue this further.

Since the letters were distributed, the police have had calls from concerned neighbours. They issued assurances and taken steps to protect the man and his family from any possible vigilante action.

The man told the Gazette he has had nothing but support from his neighbours and thanked them.

He said: My main worry has been the effect it would have on my daughter, especially at school. Even if these things are untrue, mud sticks.

He said he did not want to be identified as he feared his family would be subject to taunts even though he knew he was innocent.

The letter was brought to the attention of the Gazette by a concerned neighbour.