Niel and Partner's Story
I was up early getting ready for work; my partner was still in bed when at 6.30 am on Friday 3rd of October 2003 there was a bash at the door and a group of police officers, rushed into the house. A group of them flew up the stairs and into the bedrooms. My partner, my sister in law and her daughter were ordered out of their beds and told to get dressed.
All the girls were taken down the stairs into the kitchen while I had to stay in the living room. They were asked what they thought was going on and then told that I had been arrested for child abuse. My partner immediately knew that it was not true as my ex-wife Angela was well known for making false accusations, most of which were proved to be lies. So she told the police that this was ridicules, and it should have been sorted out long ago. An English officer agreed with her saying "yes, it should have been."
Having been kept separate from me, not allowed to speak or be near each other, at 7.30 I was rushed off to Gatwick to be flown to Inverness. The police then ransacked the house. My partner asked them "tell me what you are looking for and I will help you find it". This offer led to being told to "shut up or you will be arrested too." All the girls were told to stay put and not move, they were not even allowed up to the toilet.
About 10 o'clock my partner was asked what was on the computer and as I am into wildlife, she said "Tigers, lions, and things". They jumped down her throat and said "stop being funny, you are asking for trouble."
She also had to deal with my sister in law who was hysterical and in floods of tears. She was told very bluntly to "shut up or be arrested as well." My partner was able to calm her a little after a while.
The rest of the day they were like zombies, both hurting and numb, in some sort of limbo. This could not really be happening, they told themselves, how it could be, it was so unreal. The cops even smashed down the shed door, rather than ask for the key; talk about keystone cops.
About 10 pm that night, David's niece came round to the girls to say that even Mum had been arrested too. How stupid was that? She is 75 years old.
When I arrived at Gatwick, I really needed the toilet and had to go with my handcuffs on and a copper standing next to me. Whilst on the flight, I needed to go again but was refused in case I escaped out the plane window. Clever cops these.
All through the journey they tried to hold a conversation, and were writing down everything that was said.
I cannot say how I felt; I just could not believe this was happening to me. The after effects were that I lost my job and my family totally disowned me. If it was not for my new partner's faith in me and the love of my ex-wife Angela's family I would have nothing.
Angela has so much to answer for, and so do the social services who have hounded me for 14 years due to her allegations.