A JEHOVAH'S witness has told of his year of hell after being accused of a string of sex offences against a young girl.

Keith Lowe, 59, said he was threatened by vigilantes and received hate mail after he and and six other Jehovah's Witnesses were arrested 12 months ago and charged with sexually abusing the girl over a period of eight years.

Keith, of Willow Brook, Accrington, was charged with five rapes, four serious sexual assaults, five assaults, two indecent assaults and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

All the men were discharged on June 5 after prosecution lawyers decided there was not enough evidence to continue with the case.

Keith's lawyer, Stephen Parker, of Birchall Blackburn solicitors, said prosecution lawyers made the decision because there was no independent or corroborative evidence.

Keith, who moved to Accrington from Blackpool two years ago, said he was horrified by his arrest.

"I was 13 hours in a police cell, I have never been in prison before.

"My fingerprints are still at that police station with sex crimes written next to them."

Soon after he appeared at Blackpool Magistrates Court last July, he was told vigilantes were looking for him. "I was having a drink in my local pub and the landlady came up to me and said there had been four men looking for me with baseball bats the night before," said the former builder.

"I went home and called the police, it was very frightening." A diabetes sufferer, he had to give up a part-time job at a Blackburn jewellers and his health deteriorated under the strain.

His brother had to break in when he slipped into a coma in his flat for two days.

Keith said he became forgetful and accidentally started a kitchen fire by leaving the cooker on when he went to church at Kingdom Hall, Accrington.

A former feather-weight boxer who worked for British Rail, Keith said the support of his church and his sports training had helped him keep going.

"I didn't have many fights but I know how to get up off the deck and that's helped me."

He continued door-knocking with the Jehovah's Witnesses all through the case and said listening to other people's problems had helped him forget his own.

"The congregation has been so loving and kind, it's kept me going. I think if it was not for my beliefs I would be dead now."

A Preston Crown Court spokesman confirmed eight charges against Keith Lowe were quashed and the others were ordered to lie on file.

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