RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has joined forces with Sir Cliff Richard and Paul Gambaccini to try to change the law to protect the anonymity of those accused of sexual assault and rape.

The 58-year-old has been campaigning about the issue since he was acquitted of numerous sexual offences in 2014.

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Mr Evans met with the pop legend and broadcaster to discuss setting up a support group and campaign for the anonymity for sexual assault defendants before they’re charged.

The 75-year-old singer was cleared of sexual assault allegations last month following a two-year police inquiry after his home was raided by South Yorkshire Police in 2014.

Mr Gambaccini, a former Radio One presenter, was arrested in 2013 on suspicion of alleged historical sexual offences, but the case was dropped 12 months later due to insufficient evidence.

Mr Evans said dealing with his case was “absolute torture”.

He said: “For me, it was like getting hit by an Eddy Stobart truck multiple times, every single day.

“It is very important for me that justice is to be done on both sides of the case.

“It is not just a celebrity incident, these sorts of allegations hit people from all different backgrounds.

“Someone should be named after a strong argument is made for a strong case.

“In exceptional circumstances a judge should authorise a name to be published but this would be rare.

“It’s important for the three of us to do as much as we can and hopefully to make a difference to stop other innocent people going through what we did.

“We want to eventually change the law to benefit the who are wrongly accused.”

In 1976 anonymity was introduced for alleged rape victims and those accused, but was relaxed in the late 1980s to help police with investigations.