A FORMER police inspector who was cleared of a string of sexual assault allegations has vowed to take legal action against the police and Crown Prosecution Service.

Mustaq Patala, 37, said he was determined to highlight what he called ‘institutional racism’ within Lancashire Police to prevent ‘miscarriages of justice’.

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Speaking after a judge entered not guilty verdicts on all counts, the father-of-three said he believed his quick progression through the ranks had also caused ‘jealousy’ among his colleagues, leading him to being made an example of.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said they were aware of the allegations, but could not specifically comment on them for legal reasons.

Mr Patala, who lives in Blackburn, said: “The reality is I would not have been in this position if the police had done their jobs.

“It upsets me and I just think, how many other miscarriages of justice have their been?”

Mr Patala had already quit the force in 2011 after admitting two counts of common assault. He was given a two-year community order, including supervision, and 180 hours unpaid work.

The ex-police officer was told of the new allegations against him while he was on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

He said he told detectives he would voluntarily meet them at a police station on his return, but when he came through arrivals, he was immediately arrested.

Mr Patala also said he gave officers information to follow up during long interviews, but claimed many leads were not followed.

He said: “I had my side of the story and I gave them seven hours-worth of lines of inquiry they should pursue.

“But I was charged and it was obvious they had not conducted any of those inquiries.

“It is the prosecution’s duty to prove a charge beyond reasonable doubt, but it seems now the tables have turned and your legal team have to work to prove that you are not guilty.”

Mr Patala was charged with 14 counts of rape against two women, three of sexual assault and ultimately another of perverting the course of justice.

He was kept in custody, spending time in prisons in Preston, Liverpool and Birmingham.

He said: “I had to notify the prison staff I was an ex-police officer as I might have come into contact with people I arrested.

“But the prisoners very quickly found out. I was kept behind closed doors 23-hours a day for protection.

“I did not want to get out because of the potential harm.”

Mr Patala had always denied the charges against him and a trial was arranged to take place. After weeks of evidence, the case had to be abandoned because the prosecution had not properly disclosed information relied on to the defence.

A second trial was arranged, but following a week of legal argument, Judge Heather Lloyd, sitting at Preston Crown Court, decided not guilty verdicts should be entered.

She said there had been ‘insurmountable problems’ with witnesses and ruled that in their absence, a fair trial was not possible. Medics had said it was impossible for one of the complainants to appear before the jury and when the judge ruled the evidence she had given during the first trial could not be reused, the case was closed.

Mr Patala said: “There was obviously relief. It meant I was not looking over my shoulder anymore thinking someone was going to kill me.

“I still wake up thinking it is not over, it is going to take me some time I think. It may be the case that I require counselling.

“It is the scariest thing ever to be facing spending 18 years of your life in prison.

“But I do not think it should have ever had to come to this and I am going to commence proceedings arising from this court case in terms of the way it was invesitgated.

“Institutional racism exists profoundly within the police service. Whatever sense of justice I thought there was in Lancashire Police does not exist.

“I also rose through the ranks very quickly and there may have been people that were jealous.”

Paul Schofield, partner at Farleys Solicitors LLP, which is representing Mr Patala, added: “This has been a challenging and worrying case and I would first of all like to pay tribute to defence counsel Tony Cross QC and David Bentley who have been truly exceptional and have worked tirelessly to ensure that justice has been done.

“My client completely denied all charges from the first moment, and ultimately has been vindicated.

“It is important to note that my client has been found not guilty not by verdicts of a jury, but following a ruling by the court that he could not have a fair trial in relation to some counts, and the inevitable decision by the prosecution to offer no evidence in relation to the remaining counts.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said the second trial fell through not because of any failings on their part, but because of the problem with witnesses.

He said: “The judge did a full review of the prosecution case and all of the evidence after the first trial and decided that it should go to retrial.

He added that the force would not comment further about the allegations of institutional racism and unfair treatment because of possible legal proceedings.

A CPS spokesperson added: “After receiving medical evidence relating to the complainant in this case the prosecution applied to the judge to have the evidence given by the complainant in an earlier trial adduced as hearsay evidence in this trial.

“After hearing legal argument from prosecution and defence about this issue the judge refused the application and the CPS decided that in these circumstances it would not be appropriate to require the complainant to give evidence. We concluded that there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction against any of the defendants and therefore offered no evidence at court.

“We take all cases of alleged sexual offences extremely seriously, however the health and welfare of alleged victims remains one of our prime considerations.”