A former soldier who was cleared of rape today told how he contemplated suicide during his nightmare prison ordeal.

Paul Dean described "months of mental torture" after police arrived at his Bradford home in January and charged him with the sex offence.

Mr Dean, 41, said he even considered falsely admitting the offence rather than risk an unsuccessful trial and a far harsher sentence.

And he attacked the system which left him locked up with "murderers, paedophiles and rapists" for five months before a jury cleared him at Bradford Crown Court this week.

Mr Dean, of Dulverton Grove, Holme Wood, said he was originally arrested for common assault and added: "I was happy to give the police a full statement and then they released me."

But the following day officers returned to his house after the alleged victim made another complaint - this time claiming she had been raped.

The self-employed building contractor was questioned, charged and remanded in Armley jail.

"When some other inmates discovered the charge, I was threatened on numerous occasions," he said.

"I was told I would be sliced up, cut up or stabbed when I went into the showers. I had to go onto the segregation wing among murderers, paedophiles and rapists. It was absolutely horrific - total mental torture. Without regular visits from my family, I wouldn't have made it."

He added: "All the time I was sitting there thinking 'I could be stuck here for ten years - and I'm completely innocent'."

At one point, Mr Dean sunk so low that he felt suicide seemed his only way out.

"My mother read one of my letters, immediately saw the state I was in and called the prison to have the vicar to speak to me."

Mr Dean no longer believes in the legal system and says it desperately needs changing.

"From the moment I was charged I never had the chance to have my say. Once you are charged the accuser gets everything and you get nothing."