WHILE I am in favour of any new legislation making it easier for rape victims to relive their ordeal in court, I would also like to see new laws which protect men who are wrongly or maliciously accused of sex crimes.

As it is now, men who are accused, even on flimsy evidence, have to suffer the ordeal of having their identities revealed often with the result of losing their jobs, the break-up of relationships or being branded as perverts - even when they subsequently are found to be totally innocent.

Where is the justice in that?

STEPHEN BARKER, Elizabeth Street, Accrington.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.