A grandfather, who was raped in a vigilante attack in Resolven [South Wales] after being wrongly branded a paedophile, has been told that if he wants to take the person who started the malicious rumours to court, he will have to do it himself because it amounts to a civil matter.
Detectives believe the lies spread about Geoff Cole led to the attack last year. He has even given up his right to anonymity in a bid to help catch the rapists and clear his name.
In BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme Mr Cole and his wife Jill described how their lives have been devastated by the ordeal.
Still traumatised by the rape, the couple moved out of their home in the village overlooking the lane where it happened.
Now living in rented accommodation, they're so desperate to sell their property they've dropped the asking price by £20,000.
"I feel absolutely sick. I shouldn't have to live like this at all. I'm a completely innocent man," says Geoff Cole.
His wife Jill adds, "For us to get justice, we have to take this person to court ourselves, is that justice? I don't think so."
See Crimewatch Report here