A MAN cleared of raping a five-year-old boy has spoken of his relief at the verdict and how the accusations devastated his life.

Thomas Griffiths, 25, of Phillimore Road, Cam, was acquitted of all charges at Gloucester Crown Court this week.

Speaking exclusively to the Gazette, Mr Griffiths said he was "relieved" the trial was over but that it would take time to get his life back to normal again.

"It has been like watching myself on TV, you never believe something like this will happen to you," said Mr Griffiths.

"I tried not to leave the house at all during the trial because I was scared of what people might do or say.

"Anyone who knew me knew that I wasn't capable of this, I have never been in trouble with the police.

"I am so relieved the trial is over and that I have been acquitted but now I am back to square one and I have to get my life together."

Mr Griffiths was accused of touching and raping a five-year-old boy in August last year. He vehemently denied the charges.

He also denied a third charge of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity in a non-penetrative nature and a fourth charge that he raped a child under 13, both in August last year.

The jury took one hour to reach their verdict of not guilty for all four charges.

Mr Griffiths' mother, Susan, said: "For me and Thomas it has been an absolute nightmare.

"People just automatically assume you are guilty when they read things in the paper, which has been upsetting.

"But the whole family has been behind Thomas from the start, we never doubted that he was innocent.

"We have always been a very close family and we stuck together through this. But it has been devastating for the whole family.

"We both need to move on now and work on getting our lives back on track."