A WALTON man was dragged from his home and endured five months of hell behind bars, accused of a crime he did not commit.

Michael Samelak, 60, of Modlen Road, Walton, was held in prison since October after being accused of trying to kidnap a young girl.

Mr Samelak was arrested despite his appearance being completely different from the victim's description of her attacker.

He has finally been released after a trial found him innocent.

Mr Samelak said: “My life was destroyed so quickly and that was soul destroying when I knew I was innocent.

“I’m partly relieved that justice has been done at last, but also furious that I should be in that position.

“But I don’t want to throw blame around at everybody. I’m glad to be out of there and I want people to know I didn’t do this."

Read the full story of Michael Samelak's prison horror and five-month struggle in the Clacton and Frinton Gazette, out now.