A MAN has spoken of how his life has been left in tatters after he was cleared of raping a ten-year-old girl.

David Bracewell, 34, walked free from Preston Crown Court on the first day of a trial after the judge ordered the jury to return a not guilty verdict.

The case collapsed after the alleged victim failed to answer questions under cross examination.

Mr Bracewell, formerly of Cornell Grove, Burnley, said he was now looking forward to putting the past 14 months behind him and spending some time with his family.

He said the case had contributed to the break-down of his eight-year marriage and prompted vandal attacks on his home and assaults.

During the trial he was living at a bail hostel in Liverpool but has now returned home to be with his parents and three brothers.

He said: "I just want to get back to leading a normal life and spending some time with my family. The last 14 months have been an absolute nightmare and I'm just glad it's all over.

"When I was arrested I couldn't believe what was happening to me. It has been a terrifying time for me and my family facing such a serious charge. I was so happy when the judge said I was free to go.

"I'm happy to be back home because even though I was on bail I had to stay at the hostel. Even at Christmas and New Year I couldn't be with my family and being with them is what I want now.

"I'm not bitter towards anyone, I just want to start to rebuild my life and think about what I want to do next."

Mr Bracewell said he was planning to take legal advice to see if he could claim compensation or sue the police for wrongful arrest.

Mr Bracewell had denied a charge of raping the girl in June of last year.

It had been alleged by the prosecution that he took the girl to a field in the Stoneyholme area of Burnley and attacked her.

When the defendant was interviewed by police he said that she had made it up.

A jury watched a taped recording of the girl's interview with police.

She was later cross examined, via a video link, by John Jackson, defending.

She answered a number of questions before refusing to continue, despite several attempts to carry on with her evidence.

David Pickup, prosecuting, then said he was not offering any further evidence.

Judge Robert Brown told the jury: "Unless the complainant is willing to answer questions - put in a perfectly fair manner by Mr Jackson, and they were perfectly proper questions - you can never know what the case is.

"It is most unfortunate, but there have been several attempts to try and get the girl to answer.

"We don't really know why it is that she will not answer, whether she realises she has been telling an untruth or whether she is under pressure from somebody else."