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.
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