A FORMER Bury racial equality boss is spearheading a national campaign to introduce anonymity for defendants accused of rape.

The move by Mr Nasrullah Khan (48), comes just days after he was acquitted of three counts of rape after an eight-day trial at Bolton Crown Court.

Mr Khan, of Benson Street, Bury, condemns the present laws which protect the identity of rape victims but allows those charged with such offences to be named before they are either proven innocent or guilty.

Speaking after his acquittal Mr Khan, former director of Bury Racial Equality Council and an ex-JP, said: "My campaign will be launched in January, starting with a meeting with Bury North MP David Chaytor.

"The present law does not give the same anonymity to those in the dock as it does to rape victims.

"It is highly unfair to the accused to be named in the newspapers until he is proved guilty and to be named throughout the trial. A man is innocent until proven guilty in English law."

Mr Khan added: "In my case, I have been acquitted but the so-called victim cannot be named because of enforcement of the present law." He claims the woman who made the allegations against him did so to enable her to stay permanently in the UK.

Mr Khan resigned from Bury Racial Equality last August after 11 years, citing ill-health. He later took his employers to an industrial tribunal claiming he was unfairly dismissed.

In March, after being charged with three counts of rape, he resigned from the Bury bench where he had served as a magistrate.

Commenting on the strain of the last nine months, Mr Khan said: "I feel very bitter about the whole saga. It has left me in deep depression."

He said that the fact that he was named in Press reports meant he was vilified in the eyes of the public for a crime he did not commit. His family also became innocent victims once Mr Khan's name was published.

"My four children were shocked and under stress in school and college but stood firmly behind me in this time of difficulty.

"My sons attended the court hearing, knowing their father was innocent. It was a very difficult time for the whole family."

He also paid tribute to the support shown by friends who attended court.

After his acquittal, Mr Khan stressed those who were legitimately convicted of such offences should be punished.

"Violence against women and children should not be accepted by this or any other civilised society. We should all work to eradicate this disease."

Meanwhile Mr Khan soon hopes to re-enter public life.

"Now, I can raise my head again. This was a difficult time for me and I was under enormous stress.

"I will continue to work for the people of Bury as I always have. I am a man of character with a good name."