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New life for man cleared of rape | New life for man cleared of rape |
(about 10 hours later) | |
By Paul Deal BBC News Peter Bacon hopes that, with his new passport, he can start life afresh | By Paul Deal BBC News Peter Bacon hopes that, with his new passport, he can start life afresh |
Peter Bacon will set off for the airport next month for a flight to Malaysia. But it won't be Peter Bacon who will step off the plane at the other end. | Peter Bacon will set off for the airport next month for a flight to Malaysia. But it won't be Peter Bacon who will step off the plane at the other end. |
Mr Bacon, a 27-year-old graduate from Canterbury in Kent, says the stigma of being wrongly accused of rape has led him to create a new identity and make a fresh start thousands of miles from Britain. | |
In March, a jury at Winchester Crown Court heard that a woman was so drunk that she was incapable of giving consent to sex and that Mr Bacon took advantage. | In March, a jury at Winchester Crown Court heard that a woman was so drunk that she was incapable of giving consent to sex and that Mr Bacon took advantage. |
He insisted that the woman had consented. The jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict in 45 minutes. | He insisted that the woman had consented. The jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict in 45 minutes. |
Since then, Mr Bacon has been busy reinventing himself. | Since then, Mr Bacon has been busy reinventing himself. |
'Nightmarish' | 'Nightmarish' |
Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Radio 5 live, he said: "I've changed my name by deed poll now - the whole name. | |
"I've changed my passport, my taxes, my National Insurance, my NHS records. Everything, basically." | "I've changed my passport, my taxes, my National Insurance, my NHS records. Everything, basically." |
He has set up new Facebook and Hotmail accounts - and his degree certificate bears his new name. | He has set up new Facebook and Hotmail accounts - and his degree certificate bears his new name. |
Rape survivors and alleged rapists are both entitled to justice. But justice means convicting the men who commit rape Ruth Hall, Women Against Rape | Rape survivors and alleged rapists are both entitled to justice. But justice means convicting the men who commit rape Ruth Hall, Women Against Rape |
"I enquired about name changing on certificates before I graduated. Because, apparently, your degree certificate is a historical document, they will not change your name; it's impossible. So, if I didn't do it before graduation, then I couldn't do it. | "I enquired about name changing on certificates before I graduated. Because, apparently, your degree certificate is a historical document, they will not change your name; it's impossible. So, if I didn't do it before graduation, then I couldn't do it. |
"My name has come up a few times since the original newspaper interest died down. My name is going to keep on coming up and I'd rather move away and start again, I suppose. | "My name has come up a few times since the original newspaper interest died down. My name is going to keep on coming up and I'd rather move away and start again, I suppose. |
"You've still got your name connected to it. Just to have it connected to something like that is bad, terrible, nightmarish. It doesn't matter what the outcome was." | "You've still got your name connected to it. Just to have it connected to something like that is bad, terrible, nightmarish. It doesn't matter what the outcome was." |
Mr Bacon said he felt like an innocent man "but punished all the same... it just seems like a load of doors have closed to me because of this, even though I've done nothing wrong". | Mr Bacon said he felt like an innocent man "but punished all the same... it just seems like a load of doors have closed to me because of this, even though I've done nothing wrong". |
'Traumatic' | 'Traumatic' |
In August, a former Emmerdale actor, Lewis Linford, was cleared of sexually assaulting a woman at a nightclub in Hull, East Yorkshire. | In August, a former Emmerdale actor, Lewis Linford, was cleared of sexually assaulting a woman at a nightclub in Hull, East Yorkshire. |
Lawyer Nick Freeman, who represented him, believes the law that allows rape defendants to be named while their alleged victims remain anonymous should be reviewed. | Lawyer Nick Freeman, who represented him, believes the law that allows rape defendants to be named while their alleged victims remain anonymous should be reviewed. |
[Lewis Linford] was a completely innocent victim whose life was traumatised by a fabricated allegation Nick Freeman, who represented Lewis Linford | [Lewis Linford] was a completely innocent victim whose life was traumatised by a fabricated allegation Nick Freeman, who represented Lewis Linford |
Mr Freeman said: "Those who are investigated and charged in such cases should be given the same protection as the complainant until such time as they are convicted. | Mr Freeman said: "Those who are investigated and charged in such cases should be given the same protection as the complainant until such time as they are convicted. |
"The judge should always retain the discretion to lift the veil of anonymity in deserving cases prior to conviction. | "The judge should always retain the discretion to lift the veil of anonymity in deserving cases prior to conviction. |
"If you have a serial sex offender, they shouldn't be able to hide behind anonymity so as not to impede police investigations. | "If you have a serial sex offender, they shouldn't be able to hide behind anonymity so as not to impede police investigations. |
"Counsel should be able to apply to the judge for anonymity to be lifted and he would grant it or deny it. | "Counsel should be able to apply to the judge for anonymity to be lifted and he would grant it or deny it. |
"In the case of Lewis Linford, the jury was out for just seven minutes, so he got a lot of positive publicity and sympathy. | "In the case of Lewis Linford, the jury was out for just seven minutes, so he got a lot of positive publicity and sympathy. |
"But it had an extremely traumatic effect on him and his family - emotionally, physically and financially. He was a completely innocent victim whose life was traumatised by a fabricated allegation. | "But it had an extremely traumatic effect on him and his family - emotionally, physically and financially. He was a completely innocent victim whose life was traumatised by a fabricated allegation. |
"She was entitled to remain anonymous while he was subjected to the full glare of publicity." | "She was entitled to remain anonymous while he was subjected to the full glare of publicity." |
Break away | Break away |
Women Against Rape does not share Mr Freeman's view about anonymity for men accused of rape. | Women Against Rape does not share Mr Freeman's view about anonymity for men accused of rape. |
Ruth Hall, from the campaign group, said: "Most rapists are serial rapists. Many rape cases could be won if more than one woman came forward to give evidence." | Ruth Hall, from the campaign group, said: "Most rapists are serial rapists. Many rape cases could be won if more than one woman came forward to give evidence." |
She said if suspects were given anonymity, police would not be able to find other alleged victims. | She said if suspects were given anonymity, police would not be able to find other alleged victims. |
Ms Hall said: "Rape survivors and alleged rapists are both entitled to justice. But justice means convicting the men who commit rape. | Ms Hall said: "Rape survivors and alleged rapists are both entitled to justice. But justice means convicting the men who commit rape. |
"We have sympathy for anyone accused of something they didn't do, but that applies to all crimes. | "We have sympathy for anyone accused of something they didn't do, but that applies to all crimes. |
"Rape survivors need anonymity or no-one would come forward to report rape." | "Rape survivors need anonymity or no-one would come forward to report rape." |
While the debate goes on about the rights and wrongs of anonymity, Peter Bacon has decided it is time to leave Britain. But why Malaysia? | While the debate goes on about the rights and wrongs of anonymity, Peter Bacon has decided it is time to leave Britain. But why Malaysia? |
"It's getting a new start really, isn't it? A lot of people here know me as Peter Bacon. I'd like to go to a place where nobody knows me and I can start using my new name, start a new Facebook group, just rebuild a life really. | "It's getting a new start really, isn't it? A lot of people here know me as Peter Bacon. I'd like to go to a place where nobody knows me and I can start using my new name, start a new Facebook group, just rebuild a life really. |
"I'm surrounded by too many people who know me as Peter Bacon. | "I'm surrounded by too many people who know me as Peter Bacon. |
"But I think as soon as I get to the airport with my passport and I'm boarding the plane then I'll think 'that's it, there is no more Peter Bacon from now'. | "But I think as soon as I get to the airport with my passport and I'm boarding the plane then I'll think 'that's it, there is no more Peter Bacon from now'. |
"So hopefully, I'll be starting my life again completely afresh. It should be good." | "So hopefully, I'll be starting my life again completely afresh. It should be good." |
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