'Named and shamed' - but innocent (From Barry And District News)

'Named and shamed' - but innocent

A BARRY mother-of-four has spoken of her relief after her husband walked free from sexual offence charges.

Martin Pemberton of Greenacres was acquitted last Friday at Cardiff Crown Court after being accused of abusing a child between the age of 11 and 14 - some 23 years ago.

The 48-year-old can now carry on his life, that has been 'blighted' for the past four months.

But wife Julie is furious the justice system allowed an innocent man to be 'named and shamed' before any evidence of the alleged offence was heard in court and that her family have suffered a tormenting ordeal whilst he waited to prove his innocence.

She told the News: "In May our lives started to fall apart. When Martin's name appeared in the press in relation to sexual offences against a minor, we all suffered.

"In this country, you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. But when someone is charged with sexual offences against a young person, people react strongly. No-one stops to think if the claims are true, and if not then what it's doing to the family involved.

"We have four children. They were being bullied in school and apart from our friends, family and immediate neighbours who were extremely supportive, people started causing trouble.

"As a result of the accusations against Martin, we were investigated by Social Services, we had to inform the children's schools and Martin lost his job.

"I cannot fault the social workers who carried out the investigations. They were sympathetic and understanding but they had to follow procedure. "For four months, my husband wasn't allowed to be alone in the same room as our children. He couldn't bath them or even dress them. This whole thing nearly destroyed him.

She added: "There is no protection for people accused of this terrible crime. If a person is guilty then let society know once it's been proven. But the saying 'mud sticks' is true. There should be a change in the law to protect all innocent people."