Student falsely accused of rape was ‘dragged through hell’ after bungling cops withheld texts from ‘victim’ begging for sex
Liam Allan was cleared after lawyers were finally allowed to see messages by the complainant discussing fantasies about rape and violent sex and boasting about their romps
A RAPE suspect cleared by 40,000 texts from his alleged victim that cops hid has said: “An apology doesn’t feel enough.”
Liam Allan, 22, faced 20 years’ jail after a woman’s fake claims of 12 sex attacks.
A male cop faces a probe for the bungle, in which he is said to have dismissed the texts as irrelevant and “very personal”.
But Liam, on bail for nearly two years, voiced fury yesterday.
Asked about prosecutor Jerry Hayes’ court apology, he said: “An apology doesn’t feel like enough.
“I’ve been through hell for two years. An apology doesn’t cut it at all.”
He blasted his accuser and said: “There was no gain other than destroying somebody’s life. I’ll never forgive or forget.”
Liam told how his life had been “torn away and said: “You think the worst-case scenario. People have to start planning for life without you.”
The criminology student, of Penge, South East London, was hugged by tearful mum Lorraine and surrounded by supporters as he walked free at Croydon crown court.
He added yesterday: “It’s a relief, not just for me but everyone with me every step of the way.
“You just want to get your life back. You don’t realise you’ve lost part of your life until you have it completely dumped.
"I'll be honest, I did start to have panic attacks a couple of weeks before the trial - where it is internal - you have to have your own reaction and that's it. Panic attacks are an internal reaction but it's to be expected.
"You can't go through this and be expected to not panic or not fear and remain strong throng through the whole thing.
"You could be the strongest person in the World and it'll bring you to your knees."
Liam told of his “pure fear” when he first heard the rape allegations.
He added: “I started to have panic attacks a couple of weeks before trial.
“You can’t go through this and remain strong.” He may now sue police.
The woman alleged six rapes and six sex assaults over 14 months.
But police sat on her messages in which she begged Liam for sex and praised his manhood.
In another, she is thought to have asked a man about acting out a rape fantasy. Prosecutor Jerry Hayes said: “It’s the most appalling case of non-disclosure I’ve seen in 40 years.”
Cops must pass on evidence that could help a defence.
The experienced bungling Met det-ective faces an internal probe. Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders will take “personal interest” in it.
The 22-year-old faced up to 20 years in prison after being charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault by Met Police before the case dramatically collapsed in court yesterday.
Shortly before trial, Allan's newly-appointed prosecuting barrister Jerry Hayes discovered police had a disk with 40,000 messages from the complainant which "blew the prosecution case out the water".
They showed the woman discussing fantasies about rape and violent sex as well as pestering Mr Allan for casual sex and telling friends how much she enjoyed sleeping with him.
According to detectives repeatedly refused requests from Mr Allan's lawyers to examine the evidence, claiming they were not relevant to the case.
Judge Peter Gower found him not guilty on all counts at Croydon Crown Court and demanded an investigation "at the very highest level".
Scotland Yard has said it is now carrying out an "urgent assessment" over what happened.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have accused police of 'sheer incompetence' and claimed officers hadn't even looked at the texts.
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The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said they offered no evidence in the case on Thursday, as it was decided "there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction".
Speaking outside court, Mr Allan - a criminology student at Greenwich University - told The Times: "I can't explain the mental torture of the past two years.
"I feel betrayed by the system which I had believed would do the right thing - the system I want to work in."
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