A FORMER Tiverton Town footballer has called for those accused of rape to have their identities protected after being cleared of forcing a Facebook friend to have sex in the back of his car.
Ex-England under-16 and 17 international Liam Head's career nosedived after he was charged with raping the 18-year-old in a lay-by in a country lane near Chudleigh two years ago.
At the time he was a rising star striker at Plymouth Argyle and had played for Tiverton Town on loan but within weeks his contract was allowed to expire. He is now playing for his home town club at Bovey Tracey.
He always insisted that the woman not only consented to sex but had initiated much of the activity which took place in his car.
Head, 21, of Newton Road, Bovey Tracey, was cleared of rape by a jury at Exeter Crown Court last week after waiting 23 months for the case to come to trial. He sobbed as the jury returned their verdict after a week-long trial in which the woman alleged he had ignored her plea that she did not want to have sex on a first date.
He and his family are now calling for both sides in rape cases to remain anonymous until and unless there is a conviction.
Liam's father Justin Head said: "It has been a very traumatic period for Liam and his whole family. They are all ecstatic that justice has prevailed. They do feel strongly, in particular, that there should be anonymity for both parties in cases of this nature.
"The Head family extend a heartfelt thanks to the many hundreds of Liam's friends who have been so supportive during this very stressful period. The magnitude of messages of love and the groundswell of support has been overwhelming – a ray of sunshine during some very dark days.
"Liam intends to rebuild his life now. He wants to write about his experience, in the hope that it may assist others who find themselves in a similar situation to his, to help to give them the strength to carry on when their world collapses."
