A FORMER magistrate has been cleared of rape.

Nasrullah Khan resigned as director of Bury Racial Equality Council in order to fight three allegations of rape made against him earlier this year.

Speaking at the end of his eight-day trial at Bolton Crown Court yesterday Mr Khan said the stress and worry over the case had made him ill.

And he said he will now campaign for a press ban on naming people charged with rape.

He paid tribute to his friends and colleagues who have supported him through the 12 months it has taken the case to come to court.

Khan, aged 48, of Benson Street, Bury, had been charged with three separate rape allegations and had vigorously denied the offences throughout his trial. Yesterday after deliberating for several hours the jury cleared him of all three rape charges. He said: "I was always certain that I would be proved innocent of these malicious charges. Bringing this case was a waste of public money as there was no evidence against me.

"The charges were brought by a woman who was trying to stay in this country and to do this she put my neck on the line. If I had been convicted I would have been sent to jail for a long time.

"I have been ill with depression since February when these shameful allegations were brought against me."

Mr Khan said he now plans to join his friends in a campaign to his local MP to press for a ban on naming those accused of rape. He feels that those in the dock should have the same anonymity given to rape victims.

He said he had to resign from the Racial Equality Council and leave the Bury bench in order to fight the charges and that the case had damaged his reputation in the eyes of his community.

He paid tribute to his many friends and supporters who attended every day of the trial and who were convinced of his innocence.

He said: "I was in the public eye and I believe that certain people were trying to damage my reputation with these shameful allegations."

Now Mr Khan intends to remain living in the Bury area and hopes to re-enter local public life in the future to serve the community.

His close friend Liqat Ali said he and Mr Khan's friends knew he would be acquitted as there had been no case to answer.

He said the community feeling was running very high following the trial and that they would be delighted by the acquittals.

He added: "We will be lobbying our MP and Parliament in order that anyone charged with rape should not be named. The law should protect them as it does the victim."