ONCE again a jury has found an accused man “not guilty” of sexual assault, in this case the TV presenter John Leslie ("Jury clears ex-blue Peter presenter Leslie of sexually assaulting woman", The Herald, October 20), to add to those cases highlighted by the BBC’s recent programme I Am Not a Rapist, about three innocent males whose lives were ruined by false accusations – one of whom was driven to commit suicide, followed by his mother’s, such was the anguish and public disgrace they quite wrongly suffered.
In another case, only the last-minute examination of the female’s text messages to her friends proved that she enjoyed and often initiated their sexual encounters, directly contradicting her own accusations made six months after he ended their long-term relationship. The judge assured the accused he left “without a stain on his character”.
The males have been publicly identified, named, photographed and pilloried. But their female accusers who eventually withdrew their false claims? Their lives (and those of the texted friends) continue in blissful anonymity. All clearly relaxed about sending innocent men to jail, they have not even been charged (let alone convicted) with what seem blatant examples of perverting the course of justice, perjury, character assassination and wasting the authorities’ time.
While no doubt in too many cases guilty men are not charged or are acquitted, this double standard needs urgent review.
John Birkett, St Andrews.
THE TRAFALGAR SCOTS
TODAY (October 21) marks Trafalgar Day, the 215th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, in which Scots played a major part.
Far from being an English victory, epitomised by the famous "England expects" signal, five of the 27 captains of the fleet were Scottish, and George Duff from Banff, captain of the Mars, was one of only two captains to be killed.
Almost 30 per cent of the 18,000-strong crew were from Scottish towns and fishing villages, and Nelson's own doctor, and the woman who embalmed his body when he died, were Scots.
Scotland's industry also contributed to this historical event. Sails were produced by the jute mills of Dundee, iron for the cannons came from the Carron Works in Falkirk, charcoal from the forests of north Argyll was used in the gunpowder which fired the cannons, and timber products from Scotland's woods were used to construct the fleet of participating ships.
For some, this victory symbolises a great British triumph over the French and the Spanish, for others it epitomises English imperialism, with Scots as unwilling, press ganged accomplices.
However, what cannot be disregarded is the prolific and willing role played by Scots in a naval encounter which changed the course of European history, a history which we in Scotland cannot simply turn a blind eye to.
Alex Orr, Edinburgh EH9.
WHAT’S IN STORE?
I HAVE just received an email from the Clydesdale Bank regarding the latest developments in its integration with Virgin Money. It proudly announces that it will have a "bigger store network". I was under the impression that banks had branches not stores. However, on reflection maybe this reveals the motive of what it wants to do when you manage to firstly find a "store" that is open: that instead of providing a service as it did in the past, it wants to sell you something like other stores wish to do. We are just about to lose our last bank in Prestwick and need to travel to Ayr to partake of this "experience", which is what companies want us to do whether it is to deposit cash or buy a pair of socks when we enter their premises.
Richard Wiggins, Prestwick.
GENERAL AMUSEMENT
YOUR On This Day entry about General MacArthur fulfilling his promise by returning to the Philippines (The Herald, October 20), reminded me of a newspaper's perspective of the time. Its headline simply said: "MacArthur Flies Back To Front".
David Porter, Hamilton.
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